Chelsea wreck Man Utd plans as ruthless Pochettino chucks Tuchel favourite into cash-plus-player offer

Chelsea are readying a cash-plus-player offer that would see a star favoured by Thomas Tuchel used as bait to sign a Man Utd target, per a report.

Among the many challenges facing Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge this summer is trimming a bloated squad down to size. However, that’s not to say new additions aren’t wanted, and a cash-plus-player move would kill two birds with one stone.

The Mirror recently reported Pochettino is ‘unconvinced’ by both of his frontline goalkeeping options.

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy are the pair in question, and according to FootMercato, the latter could be served up to help bring Andre Onana to Chelsea.

Mendy, 31, was a £22m signing from French side Rennes back in 2020. The Senegalese was Tuchel’s preferred stopper during his time at the club despite Kepa being the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.

However, Mendy has fallen behind Kepa in the pecking order under subsequent managers and per FootMercato, is the one who’ll make way.

The French outlet state Pochettino will offer Mendy as well as a transfer fee in an effort to sign Andre Onana of Inter Milan. The 27-year-old is understood to be Pochettino’s priority goalkeeping target.

Onana has been simply sensational this season and has racked up the most clean sheets in the Champions League (eight). It’s fair to say Inter would not have progressed all the way to the Champions League final without a keeper the calibre of Onana between the sticks.

Onana has also been linked with Man Utd and Tottenham who have goalkeeping issues of their own.

Hugo Lloris recently confirmed he’ll seek a new challenge this summer, while David de Gea is still yet to sign a new contract. De Gea will become a free agent on June 30.

But it’s Chelsea who are seemingly ready to act on their interest, with Mendy poised to be used as bait in a cash-plus-player offer.

How much Mendy is valued at and thus how much he’d lower the transfer’s cost by isn’t stated. However, prior reports out of Italy have all agreed Inter value Onana around the €50m (approx. £43m) mark.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact Mendy recently changed agents to Fali Ramadani. Ramadani is reportedly ‘very established’ when it comes to making deals in Italy.

The Evening Standard subsequently reported Onana’s future will come to a head after the Champions League final. Inter hope to derail Man City’s treble bid on Saturday, June 10.

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