Chelsea have lodged a €50 million offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, according to a sensational report in Spain.
The Blues are interested in signing a new centre-back before the end of the Transfer Deadline Day, following Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, and Konate has reportedly emerged as a shock transfer target.
However, Liverpool have no intention of strengthening a direct rival and they are eager to tie Konate down to a new long-term contract in order to end speculation of a high-profile exit.
The 26-year-old’s current deal at Anfield is due to expire next summer and Real Madrid have earmarked him as a top target for 2026. Despite this, Chelsea could reportedly return with an increased offer for Konate as they look to tempt Liverpool into a surprise sale.
Chelsea injury news: How long will Levi Colwill be out for?
Colwill is expected to miss the majority of the 2025-26 season after successfully undergoing ACL surgery last week.
The England international started 35 of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League matches last campaign and Maresca has confirmed that he wants to sign a replacement before the end of the 2025 summer transfer window.
“It’s a priority [strengthening in defence] because Levi is a fantastic player,” Maresca told reporters after his side’s 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. “What we achieved last season is because of him. He played all the games with me, I love him [and] we’re going to miss him.”
Benoit Badiashile is also currently sidelined through injury, although Trevoh Chalobah will be available to face Crystal Palace in Chelsea’s opening fixture of the new Premier League season, despite suffering an ankle injury versus AC Milan on Sunday.
Wesley Fofana is also in contention to feature, after returning to full fitness over the summer, but he is unlikely to be included in the starting XI after missing the final two months of last campaign with a hamstring injury.
Football transfer news headlines today
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store.
Download here:
