Chelsea 'submit improved bid worth £18m for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy'

Chelsea have submitted an improved bid worth £18million for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The Senegal international, 28, has long been admired by Chelsea as a cheaper replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

But their initial offer of £15m for Mendy was turned down, forcing Frank Lampard to return with an improved bid.

Given Chelsea’s recent spending, Lampard is now assessing cheaper options to replace his out of favour goalkeeper between the sticks.

Rennes, however, have been reluctant to sell Mendy after his team to their first ever Champions League spot after finishing the Ligue 1 season in third-place.

The Senegalese international is currently contracted until 2023 and the French side are not willing to let their star keeper go for a discounted price.

Chelsea are in the market for a keeper after Arrizabalaga, who signed from Athletic Bilbao for a world-record fee of £72million, failed to hit the heights expected of him on his arrival.

Lampard has not been convinced by Kepa since his arrival as manager last summer and has dropped the shot-stopper on two operate occasions this season.

The Blues boss opted for 39-year-old Willy Caballero instead of Kepa for arguably the biggest game of his reign when the Blues clinched Champions League qualification.

Should Mendy sign for Chelsea, Kepa may pursue a potential loan option with Sevilla.