Exclusive: Chelsea plan “direct offer” for Premier League star wanted by Real Madrid | OneFootball

With just a few days left until the big Premier League kick off, Chelsea are in a tricky situation.

The Blues have done great work this summer, but are still down a key player after the ACL injury to Levi Colwill last week. There are plenty of rumours about who they might try and sign late in the window to replace him, and today we have word of a brand new, thrilling attempt to sign a Premier League star.

Konate signing would instantly improve Chelsea

Ibrahima Konate playing for Liverpool. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Ibrahima Konate has become one of the best centre backs in the league in his time at Liverpool, but the Reds have not managed to persuade him to sign a new contract, and he has just one year left to run. That’s leading to a lot of speculation he could be sold this summer rather than be allowed to walk for free in a year.

The main interest in Konate so far has come from Real Madrid, who seem to be trying to play their classic trick of tipping a player off that they want to sign him when his contract expires, then sitting back and letting him fall into their lap.

But our sources tell us that Chelsea are willing to test Konate and Madrid’s nerve by offering Liverpool serious money for the France international.

Chelsea’s “direct offer” likely to fail thanks to hovering Real Madrid

Chelsea “plan to make a direct offer” for Konate, although Liverpool are “opposed to the idea of selling Konate to one of it’s direct Premier League rivals.”

Of course if the offer is big enough they’ll have to consider it – but given Chelsea’s current model it’s hard to imagine them breaking the bank for an established star.

If they do sign someone, it seems far more likely it’s a player from far further down the food chain, a rising star, not a player with a big offer from Real Madrid in their back pocket.