Chelsea willing to offload Kepa or Mendy to sign this new No.1 goalkeeper

Chelsea are reportedly willing to sell either Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy in order to justify signing a new No.1 goalkeeper from the Premier League. Is Brentford stopper David Raya the right man for the job, and which Blues player should be kept? The Pride of London offer our verdict.

If you ask me, Chelsea fans shouldn’t be surprised that Kepa or Mendy could soon leave Stamford Bridge. Having two nationally capped goalkeepers who consider themselves CFC’s first-choice option – even if nobody else particularly does – was never going to last long. Something had to give in the battle for supremacy in the Blues net.

Until this season, it was fairly obvious that the Senegalese had secured the top spot. He had shown his qualities in the English top-flight on a regular basis, along with lifting the Champions League trophy with his west London teammates. Though there have always been considerable questions over certain inconsistencies in elements of Mendy’s game: accurate kicking and some sloppy mishaps, to name a couple.

Mendy suffered from a few issues – but who doesn’t?! Meanwhile, the Spaniard bided his time as backup ‘keeper. His downfall on Fulham Road began, or was emphasised, following Carabao Cup antics broadcast around the globe under Maurizio Sarri. I assumed Kepa would depart for pastures new a good while ago, though he never did.

So the contest for the favoured goalie at CFC continued; the rivalry carried on even as Thomas Tuchel was relieved of duty. Only the arrival of Graham Potter would find an ultimate resolution. Circumstances handed Kepa the starting role between the sticks as soon as Potter’s tenure started – and the Spanish international took his chance with aplomb.

In general, Kepa’s decision-making is much improved, there are fewer errors and his shot-stopping is presently as efficient as any other in the EPL. If I had to choose only one of the two, I’d keep Kepa. And that very scenario may be materialise, as explained by Evening Standard:

"Chelsea are targeting a new long-term No1 and are ready to offload either Edouard Mendy or Kepa ArrizabalagaThe outlet also suggest this:Chelsea to rival Tottenham for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya"

Is Raya the right person for the job? I am an admirer of the Bees man, yet I’m also unsure that he is significant enough a leap in quality over the existing duo.