Chelsea are confident of securing a deal for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, sources have told ESPN, with talks ongoing over a deal likely to be worth an initial £18 million.
That could rise to as much as £25m as the Premier League club look to find a new No. 1 to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga.
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Kepa, who joined Chelsea for €80m, a world-record for a goalkeeper, in 2018, looks set to stay at the club as they struggle to find a buyer and also because he wants to stay and fight for his place.
It has been reported that Chelsea technical director Petr Cech is behind the deal to sign Mendy, who helped Rennes finish third in Ligue 1 last season with the joint-second-best defensive record in the division.
Mendy, 28, would become Chelsea's seventh major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz.
Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is close to joining Everton on a season-long loan, sources have told ESPN.
The 22-year-old has attracted interest from a number of clubs including Rennes and Newcastle but Everton are thought to be in pole position with talks at an advanced stage.
Tomori initially enjoyed an impressive breakthrough spell last season after spending the previous year on loan at Derby County under Lampard.
After Lampard was appointed manager at Stamford Bridge, Tomori was drafted into the first team and thrived to the extent he earned his first senior England call-up in October before making his international debut the following month.
However, Tomori did not play a single minute since the restart after coronavirus -- his last appearance came in Chelsea's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Feb. 29 -- and competition for places at centre-back has since increased with the arrival of veteran defender Thiago Silva on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Tomori signed a five-year contract with Chelsea in December and Lampard continues to view him as a bright prospect for the future. The club want him to gain Premier League experience and Everton have made impressive strides in the transfer window, announcing the signing of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid just two days after securing a £22m deal with Napoli for Allan.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are expected to complete a £20m move for Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure shortly.
Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi will join Palace on loan after signing a new one-year extension to his deal at Chelsea.