Ferland Mendy, 28-year-old could replace Ben Chilwell at left-back.
Chelsea’s season has started off horribly once again this year. They are locked in tenth position after 17 Premier League games, nearer the 17th spot than the Champions League spots.
The Blues have simply failed to fire manager Mauricio Pochettino this season, and even though they have spent ridiculous sums of money in recent transfer windows, they are certain to spend considerably more when January arrives in a few weeks.
Chelsea has been linked to a left-back who has been compared to one of the top full-backs in world football, which might be problematic for Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella’s futures in blue, despite the team’s critical need for a striker.
News on Ferland Mendy’s transfer to Chelsea
Chelsea is reportedly linked to Real Madrid’s quick left-back Ferland Mendy, according to sources from Spain (via Caught Offside). The Blues are looking to add more competition to that part of the club after Cucurella’s underwhelming influence on the team and Chilwell’s mounting injury concerns.
According to the report, the Frenchman’s limited playing time in Madrid may help the Blues close the deal more easily and provide them with a top-notch full-back at a competitive price.
The 28-year-old is valued by CIES Football Observatory at approximately €15 million, or £13 million, however no price is stated in the report specifically. If this estimate is correct, it would be an incredible deal for a player that football writer Raj Chohan called a “1v1 beast.”
Given that his current contract is scheduled to expire in less than two years, in the summer of 2025, Los Blancos may be willing to sell him for less than market value in order to prevent him from signing a pre-contract in January of that same year.
For whatever reason, Chelsea would be well advised to pay that sum, even if it meant Chilwell would no longer be in the starting lineup.
Ferland Mendy vs Ben Chilwell vs Marc Cucurella | |||
---|---|---|---|
Stats (per 90) | Mendy | Chilwell | Cucurella |
Progressive Passes | 3.88 | 3.33 | 2.70 |
Progressive Carries | 1.00 | 3.24 | 2.05 |
Passing Accuracy | 95.1% | 73.6% | 86.8% |
Shot-Creating Actions | 1.75 | 3.21 | 1.54 |
Tackles Won | 0.25 | 1.08 | 2.18 |
Tackles Lost | 0.38 | 0.54 | 1.41 |
Aerial Duels Win % | 66.7% | 50.0% | 52.6% |
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season |
Ferland Mendy might be the Kyle Walker of Chelsea.
The fact that FBref ranks Kyle Walker of Manchester City as the Frenchman’s most similar player across all five of Europe’s top leagues should be enough to convince you that the Blues should pursue the former Lyon player.
The most obvious similarity between the two is how calm and efficient they are when in possession of the ball. Mendy is among the top 1% of his European counterparts in pass completion, while Walker is in the top 5%, despite playing more minutes.
Being compared so positively to a player of that quality can only be beneficial. Micah Richards believes the seasoned Englishman is one of the top full-backs in the world and may even be the greatest England has ever produced.
Apart from favourable parallels with other clubs’ stars, what is Mendy’s comparative advantage over the men he will be challenging for a spot at Stamford Bridge?
All three of them are skilled football players who shine in different parts of the game, but the Frenchman only barely prevails when considering their overall season totals, which are based on the fact that they have all played at least 330 league minutes.
The £171,000-per-week defender’s passing totals and aptitude at winning aerial duels make him stand out. He loses a lot less tackles than the other two players, even though he wins fewer than them, suggesting that this player only challenges opponents when there is no other course of action.
In the end, the Pensioners should sign Mendy if they can get him for a price that is comparable to his CIES valuation. He would be a better left-back than what they now have, and if he can even come close to matching some of Walker’s City performances, he will be well worth the money.