Tuchel provides Mendy injury update ahead of UCL final, as Blues handed £500m transfer boost after German makes Bayern announcement
Chelsea goalkeeper was brought off at half-time of the defeat at Villa Park after colliding with the post while trying to deny Bertrand Traore
Thomas Tuchel says Edouard Mendy injured his ribs during Chelsea’s defeat to Aston Villa and that the Blues won’t know the extent of the problem until they have returned to Cobham.
The Senegal international has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers this term and was once again in goal at Villa Park as Chelsea attempted to secure a victory that would guarantee their place in the Premier League top four.
However, the injury suffered by Mendy is now the club’s main concern ahead of next week’s Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto.
“It is easy to explain, he fell into the frame of the net,” Tuchel said in his post-match press conference. “He feels a big pain in his ribs. We will have an update tomorrow with what’s going on.
“We will see if it is possible [that Mendy will be fit for the Champions League] and if it is possible, we will push to do everything so he is in goal on Saturday.”
Blues handed £500m transfer boost after German makes Bayern announcement
Bayern Munich will not be joining the likes of Chelsea for Erling Haaland because they simply cannot afford to put a deal in place, says Markus Babbel.
Haaland is one of the hottest properties in world football right now after establishing himself as one of the most deadly strikers in world football, and there has been talk that he could cost clubs upwards of £500 million in the coming transfer windows.
That figure includes any fee required to prise the prolific frontman from his current surroundings, payments to ‘super agent’ Mino Raiola and the lucrative salary that would accompany a long-term contract.
There are only a handful of clubs that are able to offer him that kind of money, with Chelsea being one of them, and amid all the speculation, Babbel has opened the door for Chelsea to make their move in the transfer window.
Former Bayern defender Babbel told Goal: “The only country that can buy Haaland at the moment is England, they have a different kind of money.
“There is no chance that Bayern could get him because you would have to spend between €140m and €180m. Bayern can’t do it. The whole package is too expensive. Raiola, he is not the cheapest agent in the world, he wants to have good money as well. If you pay so much money, he has to be the best-paid player in the squad. The whole package is like €500-600m and Bayern is not in the situation at the moment to do it.
“Bayern is so happy with Robert Lewandowski. Haaland is a massive talent but there are 12 years in between and Lewandowski has more experience and is still 100 per cent fit. He knows the club, he knows the pressure and he can handle it. I can’t believe that Bayern would change Lewandowski with Haaland.”