1 day ago
35
Ibrahima Konate is being linked with a shock move to Chelsea, as uncertainty continues to surround his contract situation at Liverpool.
The France international is into the final year of his deal at Anfield, and there has been no suggestion that a breakthrough over a contract renewal is imminent. His situation has drawn parallels with the one Trent Alexander-Arnold was in last season, not least because there has been strong speculation that Real Madrid could look to sign him on a free transfer at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
But one club that we weren't expecting to be linked with Konate — despite its apparent willingness to consider signing pretty much anyone — is Chelsea.
Spanish outlet Defensa Central says that Chelsea is considering lodging a $58 million bid for Konate before the closure of this summer's window.
There is surely absolutely no chance that Liverpool would entertain such an offer, considering the Reds currently only have three senior central defenders in their squad, one of which — Joe Gomez — is currently injured.
Jarell Quansah's departure to Bayer Leverkusen has left Liverpool light in that area of the pitch, and rather than selling defenders, the Reds are looking to sign some in the next few weeks.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, who is in a similar boat to Konate in that his Palace contract is due to expire next summer, is clearly a target, while young Parma defender Giovanni Leoni has also emerged as a player of interest.
Simply, Liverpool should meet any approach for Konate, from any club, with a firm "no" in the closing weeks of the window.
Liverpool's need for a center-back reinforcements was underlined last month as Gomez flew back from the Reds' pre-season tour in Asia due to an Achilles injury.
Gomez has a reputation for being injury-prone, and his 2024-25 campaign was ended at the beginning of February by a hamstring injury he sustained in an FA Cup game against Plymouth.
Irrespective of when Gomez returns, it's clear that Slot cannot hang his hat on Gomez due to his fitness record, and Liverpool obviously cannot afford to go into the new season with Van Dijk and Konate as its only other center-backs.
Gomez did not figure in either of the friendlies against Athletic Club at Anfield last week and he was also absent from the squad for the Community Shield defeat by Crystal Palace, which means Liverpool could go into the Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Friday with just two fit center-backs available.
English (US) ·