Chelsea have reportedly dropped the idea of pursuing Ibrahima Konate despite his potential availability on a free transfer in the summer.
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are not willing to move forward with their pursuit of Ibrahima Konate, as they become the latest club to snub the Liverpool defender. The France international’s future is hovering over on uncertain terms, as he runs down his deal at Anfield ahead of leaving on a free transfer in the summer.
Ibrahima Konate has been in the news very often throughout the season for many reasons. For starters, there have been plenty of criticisms over his game this term, and secondly, there’s the contract situation at his club Liverpool, with the 26-year-old now into the final six months of his deal at Anfield.
Konate was on the radars of many top teams in the market, but for the last many weeks, a few of them have dropped out. Real Madrid were seen as the favourites to land the 26-year-old Liverpool star on a free transfer, but Florentino Perez has since blocked any potential deal for the France international.
The plight of others in the chase remains unclear, with suggestions that Konate reportedly rejected Liverpool’s latest contract offer. The France international now seems destined to leave Anfield on a free transfer in the summer, although there has been another one of his suitors dropping out.
Chelsea are the latest to cool their interest in Konate, after some sections of the media reported they were looking at the possibility of signing him. The Blues are in the mix to sign a top-tier centre-back to strengthen their backline amid plenty of problems in defence, but they are wary of the dropping levels in performances from the 26-year-old Liverpool star, and have decided against pursuing the France international.
Will Chelsea sign a new centre-back?
Chelsea had contemplated entering the Konate chase for his potential availability on a free transfer next summer. However, they have dropped out for now and are pursuing a younger alternative, with the club keen to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
The club are likely to continue on their pathway of signing younger talents as opposed to established and experienced players for their project. Konate certainly falls in the latter category to a degree, whereas Jacquet could offer them a long-term solution at the back for years to come.
