Frank Lampard has confirmed the imminent arrival of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The Chelsea manager told his Tuesday press conference that the Ivory Coast international was undergoing a medical ahead of completing a €25million move.
Mendy will provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has come under even further scrutiny following his display in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The 26-year old Spaniard became the world's most expensive goalkeeper just over two years ago, when Chelsea paid for his €80million release clause from Athletic Bilbao.
However, a disappointing 2019-20 season culminated with Arrizabalaga being dropped in favour of Willy Caballero for their FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.
Lampard has confirmed that Caballero will start Wednesday's Carabao Cup 3rd round tie with Barnsley, "The Willy Caballero decision was already made, and it was a decision I made a lot in cup competitions last year.
"Willy trains brilliantly throughout the year, and I decided that before Sunday."
“With Mendy coming in it's more competition, Lampard added, "So every reaction will have to be positive around that from Kepa.
“Mendy as he comes in himself will push to try and play in this team, we know that.
“We know the standards that are required from a goalkeeper in this team, so we have to push for that."
The Chelsea boss says all three of his first-team keepers will have to compete for a starting place, but warned, "I'm not making any final statements at all at the minute, football's not like that.”
Recent signing Thiago Silva is set to make his Chelsea debut against The Tykes, while Ben Chilwell has also been included in the squad having missed their first three games of the season.
Lampard says Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic are also edging closer to their respective first-team returns.
But regarding his goalkeeping situation, the ex-Derby manager knows it's one he has to treat carefully, "I think it is the hardest position because of the individual nature and mistakes generally get punished with goals.
"That doesn’t happen necessarily with other places on the pitch. The eyes can be drawn to that and I understand that.
"As a manager I also have to be sympathetic to that point. Last year I changed the goalkeeper between Kepa and Willy a few times. When I do it I do it with a different mindset to outfield players because I understand the different elements to it. I am very aware of that.
"At the same time we are always striving for the best performance we can get and that is what we must continue to do.”
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