Pochettino has now decided to sell £50,000-a-week Chelsea man who Tuchel called ‘fantastic’

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Mauricio Pochettino has now decided to offload Edouard Mendy after making Inter Milan glovesman Andre Onana a priority at Chelsea.

That is according to Foot Mercato.

By the sounds of it, Chelsea could even use Edouard Mendy as a bargaining chip to lure Andre Onana away from Inter Milan.

What’s the story?

Well – a week on from Pochettino officially being announced by Chelsea – the Argentine has already made his mind up on the Senegal international.

Foot Mercato believe the 51-year-old is now ready to include Mendy in a player-plus-cash bid to sign Onana.

The French news outlet add that the £50,000-a-week man himself could help to push the move through, as he is keen to receive more playing time than he currently gets at Stamford Bridge.

Mendy made just nine Premier League appearances during the 2022/23 campaign after falling behind Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order.

Onana is set to start for Inter Milan in the Champions League final against Manchester City next Saturday.

Therefore, we would presume that negotiations between the Italian giants and Chelsea would only begin once that game has ended.

Mendy’s downfall at Chelsea is a shock

A few years ago, it seemed Chelsea had found a goalkeeping gem who would start in between the sticks at Stamford Bridge for many years.

Mendy – who was called “fantastic” by Thomas Tuchel back in March 2022 – received The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2021 after helping Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League.

The BBC quoted Tuchel as saying: “He is very calm and he transmits that calmness to our defenders. He always thinks about the team. He is exceptional and I am very happy to have him in my squad. I am pleased to coach him and it’s great to have him here every day. He is fantastic.”

Of course, it should be noted that a shoulder injury seriously disrupted Mendy’s season.

However, even when the 31-year-old was chosen to start, he looked very shaky – far from the reliable goalkeeper he once was.

Now, it seems Mendy will not be given the chance of a fresh start at Chelsea under Pochettino.