Spurs eye 31-year-old outcast as ‘crucial details’ of Loftus-Cheek’s Chelsea exit revealed

Edouard Mendy looks set to leave Chelsea this summer and Ruben Loftus-Cheek is heading for the exit doors at Stamford Bridge.

Mendy has been an outcast this season following Thomas Tuchel’s departure. Following his injury at the beginning of the season, Kepa Arrizabalaga grasped the opportunity and has become the preferred choice – both under former boss Graham Potter and now caretaker Frank Lampard.

The 31-year-old will be available for transfer this summer as Chelsea look to cut their bloated squad from in excess of 30 to around 24 or 25 players.

Mendy has been unable to agree a contract extension after being offered a new six-year contract, as reported by Andy Dillon of The Sun, having wanted parity with Kepa’s £170,000-a-week wages.

Plans are beginning to be made ahead of the 2023/24 season and Mendy’s future looks increasingly uncertain as decisions start to be made over who stays and goes.

According to Andy Dillon, Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a surprise candidate for Mendy’s signature this summer.

Spurs, who are looking for their next manager after parting ways with Antonio Conte, have had club scouts following the Chelsea goalkeeper ‘closely for some time’ and could consider trying to sign him to replace Hugo Lloris who is expected to leave at the end of the season.

Pochettino wants to bring in a new goalkeeper to replace Mendy should he be sold, with Brentford’s David Raya, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Inter Milan’s Andre Onana all linked with switches to Stamford Bridge.

Whether Chelsea would be open to allowing Mendy to swap west for north London remains unclear, but he is almost certainly going to be at a new club come the start of next season.

Another star who could depart is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The 27-year-old is out of contract next summer and has been linked with a move to Italy.

He has held talks with Serie A outfit AC Milan and discussions have been progressing ‘very well’, according to Fabrizio Romano, who also reports that the Chelsea midfielder is keen on a move to the San Siro.

Fabrizio Romano now adds that talks will continue soon between AC Milan and Loftus-Cheek over a summer move, which would be a permanent transfer for the England international. Both clubs have held talks together and negotiations remain ongoing over the ‘crucial details’ of the deal.