Chelsea looking to secure bargain of the season with highly admired goalkeeper

Chelsea threw caution to the wind last summer, breaking the Premier League transfer spending record for one window on the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz. 

However, their best signing of the whole lot was goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who arrived from Rennes for a now bargain £22 million.

The Senegalese stopper was brought to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea lost patience with record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mendy had an instant impact, stabilising a typically wobbly and nervous backline and help transform it into one of the best defensive units in Europe.

There was a stutter in November and December as Chelsea went back to their leaky ways, losing five of seven Premier League matches.

It culminated in Frank Lampard facing the Stamford Bridge axe, however, Tuchel’s arrival and reversion to a three man defensive line helped Chelsea regain their defensive nous.

Mendy in particular found his form and has been a colossus in the sticks; impressing particularly against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final where he made three massive saves against Karim Benzema, helping Chelsea progress to the  final where they face Manchester City.

However, despite his qualities, Chelsea could be looking to change goalkeepers yet again as reports from 90min.com suggest the Blues are set to bring in 22-year-old goalkeeping star and free agent Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Donnarumma would not cost The Blues a penny.

The Italy international will be a free agent this summer having ran down his contract at AC Milan after failing to agree contract demands.

Standing at a massive 6-ft-4 inches, he is an almighty presence in goal who has comfortably filled the gulf left by Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian national team.

While there is no question Mendy has been sensational, there would be more chance of finding a unicorn at Stamford Bridge than signing a goalkeeper of Donnarumma’s age, experience and quality free of charge again.

Chelsea have been admirers of Donnarumma since he became Italy’s youngest ever international goalkeeper at aged 17-years-old but were scared away by the enormous price tag Milan valued him at.

While it would be extremely harsh on Mendy, Donnarumma on a free could prove to be an opportunity too hard to resist for the Blues.