Frank Lampard has confirmed that Edouard Mendy is not in contention to start for Chelsea against West Brom on Saturday.
Chelsea this week reportedly paid £ 22million to sign goalkeeper Mendy from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
The 28-year-old is expected to take over from Kepa Arrizabalaga, who the Blues made the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when they signed him from Athletic Bilbao for £ 71.6m. £ i August 2018.
Kepa have made two mistakes that have led to goals in so many Premier League appearances this season, however, but will not be displaced yet.
“Starting tomorrow is not going to happen,” Lampard said when asked if Mendy was against starting at Hawthorns Saturday.
“He’s had a long week where he hasn’t really trained, flew in yesterday and it just feels like too tight of a turnaround to put him in conflict with starting the game.”
Asked whether he had spoken to Kepa since Mendy’s arrival was confirmed, Lampard replied: “I have not spoken to Kepa since then. The message came and we trained and I did not see Kepa, but I want to have a conversation with him and Willy Caballero over the next 24 hours.
“I have a very open line of communication with both of them. It’s important as goalkeepers. They have their own little union in the training area because of the nature of the way they work together.
“It has to be a very positive feeling between the goalkeepers and I’m sure there will be. There’s good competition there now, we know that and that’s how we move forward.”
Chelsea also secured offers for Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Ben Chilwell before the 2020-21 season.
Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho have therefore been linked with exits from Stamford Bridge, but Lampard gave nothing away on their future.
“I do not expect anything in the window, because it is our players and that is a fact. There are many rumors about them and others,” said the Chelsea boss.
“Every player will always be a case-by-case solution, it would be a happy solution for the player, the club and myself. Yes, we have a great team, we know that, but at the moment the players remain ours and we see when it continues. “
Lampard was also guarded when asked if Declan Rice could be bought from West Ham before the October 5 transfer deadline.
“Again, those are rumors. I can’t talk about these things, but I know it’s your job to ask,” he said.
“When players are ours, it’s not my position to wonder what might be, because it’s not my job, and the same on the other side with players playing for other clubs.
“We have a game against West Brom. My biggest thing is to get the team ready for that game.”
