Edouard Mendy reportedly feels 'disrespected' by Chelsea after turning down a mammoth six-year contact offer.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper is believed to want parity with teammate Kepa Arrizabalaga 's wages, despite the Spaniard recently usurping him to the No.1 spot. Mendy, now back with Blues after turning out for Senegal at the World Cup, finds himself in a stand-off with club chiefs, who're said to have withdrawn their long-term proposal and put three European clubs on alert.
According to the Sun, Mendy - whose £100,000-a-week deal at Stamford Bridge doesn't expire until 2025 - has been playing hardball in negotiations this season and feels mistreated given his efforts for the club since arriving in the summer of 2020. The news is said to have prompted AC Milan, Nice and Monaco to show interest in snapping him up.
Having helped Chelsea win the Champions League and Club World Cup in his first two campaigns, the Senegalease shot-stopper has spent much of this term watching from the bench. That's because Kepa, who earns nearly double Mendy's salary, got the nod from new boss Graham Potter upon his arrival in early September.
After the former Rennes goalkeeper was first dropped by ex-manager Thomas Tuchel for the final game before his sacking, Potter picked up the reins and stuck with Kepa for the next 10 matches. The Blues only conceded four goals in that period, as Mendy's previous understudy racked up six clean sheets.
Fortunately for the displaced Mendy, Kepa suffered an injury during Chelsea's humiliating 4-1 defeat at Brighton on October 29, keeping him out of action for the final five games prior to the World Cup break. Mendy started each subsequent game but the Blues worryingly lost four of them, and it's therefore expected that Kepa will become first-choice again once he returns to full fitness.
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Potter's preference comes down to the fact that the former Athletic Bilbao 'keeper is more comfortable with his feet than Mendy, who looked increasingly suspect towards the end of last season. Kepa, who many expected to leave west London after four unconvincing years this past summer, is also keener to play further off his line, complimenting Potter's progressive style of play.
The Blues boss recently issued an update on the 28-year-old's injury predicament, telling his club's website : "Kepa is not quite with the team yet but has stepped up his rehab."
Kepa has evidently impressed Potter since his appointment and the ex-Brighton boss was clear when asked about the decision to keep Mendy on the bench. "It's better to let football decide," Potter affirmed in October. "Kepa has done really well and been fantastically supported by Edou and Betts [third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettlinelli].
"Kepa's form is really pleasing for everybody. I've been really impressed with his character, personality, understands the game well, takes responsibility."
