Mauricio Pochettino has made a huge summer transfer decision after Chelsea confirmed the departure of Edouard Mendy. The 31-year-old endured a challenging 2022/23 season and has now completed a move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli for a fee in the region of £16 million ending his three-year stint at Stamford Bridge.
In the statement confirming his exit, the Blues sent a classy message to their now former shot-stopper as he departed a Champions League winner. "Having started his career in the lower tiers of French football – and even spending several months without a club – Mendy rose to the pinnacle of European football with Chelsea, a part of the statement read.
"A hugely likeable character on and off the pitch, he will always have a place in our history for his significant contributions to our 2021 Champions League triumph. For that, and for everything else, we are grateful. Good luck, Edou!"
Although he saw less minutes in the last campaign, a rather large gap has now emerged in the goalkeeping area. Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to remain as the firm No.1 choice under Pochettino with the Argentine believing, along with goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez, he can take Kepa to the next level.
The Spaniard completed a £71.6m move to Chelsea in 2018, but has struggled for consistency in the following years. Mendy was purchased two years later and immediately took his spot, but under former head coach Graham Potter, Kepa once again become the primary option.
Eddie Beach, Marcus Bettinelli and Gabriel Slonina are the other members of his goalkeeping unit and with no clear back-up option of the trio, a summer transfer is expected in that department. However, according to the Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella, an imminent replacement for Mendy is not in the cards and Slonina could end up in the spot with Pochettino to offer him the chance to impress in pre-season.
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It is important to note that he does mention it could be a topic that is addressed later in the window by the Blues. Nonetheless, it will be an amazing opportunity for Slonina following his £12m move from Chicago Fire last summer with his qualities clearly being on show in Premier League 2 and for the USMNT.
A loan to receive consitent first-team minutes appeared as the most-likely scenario for the 19-year-old, but passing the audition put in place by Pochettino could result in him staying in west London for the next campaign.
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