Chelsea star Edouard Mendy 'will push to leave in the summer' if he remains behind Kepa Arrizabalaga in the goalkeeping pecking order at Stamford Bridge, journalist Simon Phillips has told GiveMeSport.
The Blues spent big during the January window, with Enzo Fernandez completing a British record transfer from Benfica for £106.8million on deadline day, but head coach Graham Potter could freshen up his squad at the end of the season.
GiveMeSport Transfer Update
Chelsea transfer news - Edouard Mendy
According to the Evening Standard, Mendy is likely to be sold when the transfer window reopens as Chelsea have set their sights on signing a new first-choice shot-stopper.
The report suggests the Senegal international is aware Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid are all likely to be in the market for a new goalkeeper.
Mendy turned down a six-year contract during the final stages of 2022, which has led to AC Milan, Nice and Monaco keeping tabs on his situation.
Despite the snub, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently told GiveMeSport that Chelsea have remained in talks over fresh terms.
Mendy's current Stamford Bridge contract, which is worth £55,000-per-week, still has two-and-a-half years to run.
What has Simon Phillips said about Mendy?
Phillips believes Mendy will seek a move away from Chelsea if it becomes abundantly clear that he is no longer the preferred option between the sticks.
The journalist is aware the 30-year-old is unhappy with his lack of game-time in west London and will not settle for playing second fiddle to Kepa.
Phillips told GiveMeSport: "Chelsea bringing in a goalkeeper depends on what happens with Mendy because Kepa is liked by the club and he's liked by Potter, so I can actually see him sticking around.
"But I think Mendy is not going to stay if he's going to be a back-up goalkeeper. He wants to be a number one, so he will push to leave in the summer if the situation stays the same."
Read more: Premier League 22/23 Game week 22: Fixtures, predictions, odds, table & everything you need to know
Should Chelsea look to sell Mendy in the summer?
It is clear that Mendy is not one of the first names on the team-sheet as, according to Transfermarkt, he has only been afforded 404 minutes of action since Potter succeeded Thomas Tuchel as Chelsea's boss last September.
The 30-year-old, who has been on the Blues' books since completing a £22million move from Rennes in 2020, has seen Kepa usurp him as the first-choice goalkeeper.
But Mendy's demotion is understandable as Sofascore statistics show, on average, he has conceded 1.3 goals per Premier League outing this season, while he also made an error which led to him having to pick the ball out of his own net.
The 6 ft 4 former Stade Reims man, who has made 104 appearances for his current employers, has refused to commit his long-term future to Chelsea and that needs to be taken into consideration.
Potter may be better off allowing Mendy, who has been handed a Premier League average match rating of 6.50 by WhoScored this term, to move onto pastures new when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
You can find all of the latest football news and rumours right here