Chelsea 'wanted Wojciech Szczesny last summer'

Chelsea were reportedly interested in bringing former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to Stamford Bridge last summer.

The Blues, who were managed by Frank Lampard during last summer's transfer window, prioritised the signing of a new number one and eventually recruited Rennes stopper Edouard Mendy for around £22m.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Lampard was keen to sign Szczesny from Serie A giants Juventus, but the 30-year-old Polish international is settled in Italy and would not have been interested in a return to London.

Despite Chelsea signing Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record fee of around £72m in the summer of 2018, the Spaniard failed to assure Lampard that he was his long-term goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge.

Senegalese international Mendy has since offered more consistency and has become the team's new number one during the 2020-21 campaign.

Szczesny, who has won three Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia since joining Juve in 2017, has made 129 appearances for the club, keeping 53 clean sheets.