According to various reports, Chelsea are the latest side to join the race for AS Monaco’s highly-rated full-back Benjamin Mendy. The 22-year-old Frenchman has had a season to remember this year with European super giants like Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and many others keeping tabs on him.
Chelsea are extremely close to lifting the Premier League trophy after a horrendous campaign last year that saw the London club missing out on the European tournament and consequently on a number of players. However, with new manager Antonio Conte turning the season around for the Blues this year, they are expecting some serious ship-ins at the end of the season.
Mendy has played a significant role in Monaco’s successful season so far with the youngster managing 28 appearances already. He came into the limelight with his attractive displays in the Champions League with their win over Manchester City as the latest achievement.
An academy product of French side Le Harve, Mendy came up through its ranks and debuted for them in August 2011. It was difficult for him to adapt to the top-level football before coach Marcelo Bielsa took charge of the club and changed his life. Two impressive seasons there and Ligue 1 powerhouses Marseille picked him up in 2013.
Monaco bought him just last summer, and like many others in the squad, who have achieved a superstar status within this season, Mendy has come under the radar too. The biggest weapon that Mendy would bring to any side is his outmuscling run-up and down the left flank. Very much like N’Golo Kante, Mendy doesn’t seem to get tired at all.
An attack-minded player by nature, Mendy knows just how to strike a perfect balance between the offence and defence. And his tremendous pace is his biggest ally in executing it to perfection. Chelsea have found it difficult to replace their two wing-backs, Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses when needed and Mendy can fulfil it.
A player of his calibre will find his services in demand to most Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Manchester City being in desperate need of it. United too, with their manager showing little to no confidence in Luke Shaw, could be tempted by Mendy. Monaco had bought Mendy for £13 million and it goes without saying that they would demand more than double to even think of letting go of him.
The player will find it hard to turn down the riches of the Premier League and the lucre and Chelsea will be confident of landing their man if they go after him determinedly.
