Edouard Mendy has reportedly passed his medical in Berlin and is now a Chelsea player ahead of his £22million move from Rennes. The goalkeeper is set to join up with Frank Lampard’s squad and is expected to overtake Kepa Arrizabalaga as Chelsea No 1.
“We know the standards that are required of a goalkepeer in this team and we have to push for that.
“Petr was important in that because goalkeeper is a very particular position and he was the best in the world at that position for a long time so he’s certainly had a big say in this situation from my point of view. I lean heavily on him when it comes to the goalkeepers day-to-day and planning for the future so he was very influential.”
Chelsea had contemplated offloading Arrizabalaga at the end of last season but there was only interest in a loan.
Given the Blues paid a world-record fee of £71m to sign him two years ago, the club are not yet prepared to take a huge hit on him and remain optimisic he will come good.