Edouard Mendy was "the best on the list" of goalkeeper targets and had been followed by Chelsea for several years, Petr Cech has revealed. 

Chelsea opted to reinforce their options in goal following a series of error-strewn performances from Kepa Arrizabalaga, plus with the advancing years of Willy Caballero. 

Senegal keeper Mendy arrived from Rennes in a reported £22million deal and has played a big part in shoring up a Chelsea defence that had started the season in leaky fashion. 

In the six appearances he has made in all competitions so far, Mendy has conceded just a solitary goal, against Tottenham in an EFL Cup tie. 

Indeed, in the Premier League he has four saves in three matches and his 100 per cent save record is the best in the division. For comparison, Kepa has a 57.14 per cent save success rate having also played in three league games this term. 

Mendy is set for a swift Rennes reunion when the Ligue 1 side visit Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

Speaking to L'Equipe about Mendy ahead of that clash, Chelsea technical director Cech said: "I've been following him for three and a half years, when he was in Reims.  

"At the start, it was Christophe Lollichon [Chelsea's goalkeeper scout] who told me about him, because he had been unemployed.  

"Since then, Edouard has continued to improve, season after season. When it became clear last summer that a new goalie was needed to compete with Kepa and Willy Caballero, I internally suggested several names, including Edouard. And I insisted that I thought he was the best on the list. My advice was followed. 

"It is in the continuity of its performances with Rennes. He is a very calm goalkeeper, who knows how to remain simple and efficient, who reassures his team-mates.  

"He must continue to evolve at this level to keep his starting place, as the competition with Kepa and Willy remains open."

Edouard Mendy's first #PL matches for @ChelseaFC:

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁
𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁
𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁 #BURCHE pic.twitter.com/dg7pj73bho

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 31, 2020

Cech won four league titles and the Champions League among a lengthy list of honours at Chelsea and retired in 2019 after a four-year stay with London rivals Arsenal. 

The former Czech Republic international was surprisingly included in Chelsea's Premier League squad for this season, however, a decision taken to boost the department in case of emergencies given the effect the coronavirus pandemic continues to have on top-flight squads. 

Cech is adamant he is ready to step in should former team-mate Frank Lampard need him. 

"Honestly, yes. When Frank asked if he could add me to the C1 list, I said yes, because I felt ready to play if the circumstances demanded," he added. 

"But we all hope not to get there."