Chelsea have opened talks with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy over a new contract.

Mendy was one of the Blues stars earmarked for an improved deal following their Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital takeover and negotiations are underway though, following the initial discussions, there is significant distance between the parties and their current starting positions.

Mendy is two years into the five-year agreement he penned on joining Chelsea from Rennes in 2020.

The Senegalese stopper was signed to compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga but has exceeded expectations, establishing himself as Chelsea’s first choice and becoming one of the world’s leading goalkeepers.

He helped Chelsea win the Champions League in his first season, keeping a record-equalling nine clean sheets along the way.

He was then voted goalkeeper of the year for 2021 by both UEFA and FIFA, becoming the first African to win both awards, after keeping 27 clean sheets and conceding just 34 goals in 51 games. In total, he has kept 49 clean sheets in 93 appearances for Chelsea.

Chelsea are now keen to hand Mendy, 30, new terms to reflect his performances and status.

He is one of the lower-paid members of Thomas Tuchel’s squad with his wages dwarfed by, among others, Kepa who earns in excess of £150,000 and some of his Premier League counterparts including Manchester City’s Ederson and Liverpool’s Alisson who are in a similar pay bracket.

Manchester United’s David de Gea is the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world on £375,000 per-week.