Rafa Benitez is considering a £2m move to beat West Ham to the signing of highly-rated goalkeeper Edouard Mendy according to an exclusive in the Mirror – with the 25-year-old stopper earmarked to provide competition for Martin Dubravka.
After an impressive spell on loan since arriving from Sparta Prague in January, it’s believed to be a ‘matter of time’ until the permanent £4m signing of Dubravka is announced.
We have plenty goalkeepers on our books, but the Mirror claim Benitez is looking for another, and reckon 6ft 5′ Reims goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is a player he’s keen on – with him keeping 17 clean sheets last season and conceding just 22 goals in 38 games.
Manuel Pellegrini is interested in making the 25-year-old his first signing at West Ham according to the report, but it appears as though Rafa is also eyeing a potential £2m deal to add yet another goalie to his ranks:
“The 25-year-old Guinea-Bissau international – rated at £2million – has also attracted interest from Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, who is stepping up his own search for another keeper.
“He is considered one of the most under-rated keepers in French football, and has just two years left on his contract.
“That has led Benitez to explore options.
“Paris Saint-Germain keeper Alphonse Areola has been in his sights, but he’s also been alerted to Mendy.”
It seems odd that we’d sign yet ANOTHER goalkeeper after Dubravka, but it’s seemed clear for a while now that Rafa is keen to completely overhaul his options in this area.
Sels is off to Anderlecht, Woodman is due another loan move to earn more first-team football and Darlow is more than likely to be moved on too, so perhaps Rafa is looking to bring in a goalkeeper who’s happy to compete with Dubravka for the number one jersey?
It’d seem a little odd and unnecessary given how badly we need to strengthen in other areas, but recouping around £8-10m for Sels and Darlow and bringing in Dubravka and Mendy for around £6m could make sense.
We shall see, but if we’re eyeing deals to sign back-up goalies, Kenedy, and a few new strikers, it’s going to have to be a busy summer if Benitez is to get his way!
