Chelsea’s staggering spending of more than $250 million on players before the new season has failed to possibly solve the team’s problem.
Frank Lampard relies on the stage by hiring Senegalese goalkeeper Odouard Mendy.
In a move that will call into question the long-term of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s top mistake-prone goalkeeper, Chelsea came close to signing Mendy for Rennes’ 22 million pounds ($27. 75 million) on Tuesday.
Mendy undergoes a medical examination, Lampard confirmed, with a view to joining in time to play West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
If Chelsea are to have a realistic chance of winning the big trophies this season, it’s a resolution that needs to be made, even given the club’s record frenzy in the move market this summer.
Kepa, to put it bluntly, has become a handicap, and his confidence decreases with each game.
The 25-year-old Spaniard this season as No. 1 despite wasting his position on Willy Caballero, a 38-year-old double for last season’s stages. statistics over the past two seasons, according to the official English Premier League statistics provider, Opta.
For example, no goalkeeper has conceded more league goals outside the gates of penalty dominance than Kepa (19) since 2018. Opta also said that, with “expected” data, he conceded 11 more goals than his style would expect a goalkeeper to concede. worst any custodian of division.
So it’s a marvel that Kepa has been given the start of the season with goals, and that Chelsea have not yet hired a goalkeeper as part of their big recruiting campaign.
His back proved he was not up to the task by letting a long-range shot of midfielder Leandro Trossard fly under his arms in a 3–1 win over Brighton in the first round. The worst comeback against Liverpool on Sunday, when Kepa tried to pass the ball in the back to see it intercepted through Sadio Mane, who left the ball loose for the time being in a 2-0 win for the champions.
This may turn out to be one of Kepa’s last remarks under a Chelsea shirt.
“It’s the most complicated position because of its individual nature and because mistakes are punishable by goals,” Lampard said Tuesday. “This doesn’t necessarily happen in other parts of the field. So the eye can be drawn smoothly by that, and I perceive that.
“I also know that by now you’ll have to be friendly. Last year I replaced the goalkeepers between Kepa and Willy a couple of times, and when I do, I do it with a different idea than the procedure I do with cash players . . . But at the same time, at all times we try to get the most productive performance imaginable.
And that means kepa’s call-up, which begins Wednesday for the English League Cup, fits in front of the second division Barnsley, when Caballero must begin.
Mendy differs from Kepa in that he has a very vocal presence and masters his box well, is fast and agile, and has a great appearance as a scorer.
“With Mendy’s arrival, it’s more competition,” Lampard said. “Every reaction will have to be positive about it, for Kepa, for Mendy, to press to play on this team. We know the required criteria of a goalkeeper on this team.
When asked if he thought of Mendy as the first choice, Lampard said: “Competition is not unusual at a club like Chelsea. I know the doorman’s scenario isn’t that transparent, but that’s where we are.
“I’m making the latest statements right now. “
Actions will be eloquent than words.
It will be a great wonder if, after passing her medical exam and giving negative on a COVID-19 checkup on Thursday, Mendy did not make her West Brom debut this weekend.
Then Chelsea, to lessen their losses on a player who remains the club’s record, will remain one of the biggest failures in Premier League history.
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Steve Douglas is in https://twitter. com/sdouglas80