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Chelsea have reportedly made a £43 million (€50 million) bid to sign Liverpool central defender Ibrahima Konaté, who is in the final year of his contract at Anfield. This move comes after Chelsea’s key defender Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury expected to keep him out for the entire 2025 season, prompting manager Enzo Maresca to seek reinforcements in central defense.
The French international, valued at around €50 million by Liverpool, has attracted interest from top European clubs including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Real Madrid has considered signing Konaté but reportedly only made a low bid (€20-25 million), which Liverpool has rejected. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s offer matches Liverpool’s asking price, though Liverpool is reluctant to sell Konaté to a Premier League rival and would prefer to sell to Real Madrid instead.
Negotiations for Konaté’s contract extension at Liverpool remain ongoing but inconclusive. The club plans to offer him a new deal, but if he declines, they may be willing to sell him this summer. Konaté has been described as “world-class” by players and pundits, and has won several trophies with Liverpool since joining in 2021.
Given Liverpool's limited depth in central defense, selling Konaté is complicated for the club, especially amid ongoing injury issues. Chelsea may need to explore other central defender options if the deal does not materialize, with names like Marc Guehi and Ronald Araújo being considered as alternatives.
Enzo Maresca might also assess Chelsea’s performances in the early part of the Premier League season before making a final decision on signing a new defender. Chelsea's chase for Konaté highlights the intense transfer battle among elite clubs for top defensive talent ahead of the 2025/26 season.
PP
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