It has been quite some time since Chelsea have gone out and signed a top player from one of their rivals. In the past, doing so has served them well. Ashley Cole was brought in from Arsenal. N’Golo Kante was signed from then-Premier League champions Leicester City. Fernando Torres arrived from Liverpool. The list goes on.
All those players played an integral part in Chelsea winning major trophies. Yes, even Torres. That is something the club have struggled to do under the BlueCo ownership. So, is it time to repeat an old trick and sign someone from a direct Premier League rival?
Defence is an area of weakness for Chelsea right now. They have looked far too exposed at the back far too often, especially since Liam Rosenior became manager. The issues date far before him though.
Chelsea’s defensive problems really started when Levi Colwill got injured in preseason and was not replaced. That was an error that must be acknowledged. It had looked like the club tried to sign a centre-back in the winter, and even agreed personal terms with Jeremy Jacquet. But ultimately, they could not find an agreement with Rennes and the Frenchman decided on a move to Liverpool.
Could Chelsea sign one of Liverpool’s centre-backs?
In a curious turn of events, could Chelsea end up signing one of Liverpool’s centre-backs in the summer? Of course, we are talking about Ibrahima Konate, whose future at Anfield has remained uncertain for quite a while now.
Konate’s contract with Liverpool runs out in the summer. So far, he has not agreed on an extension. And as we edge closer to the end of the season, an exit starts to feel more and more likely.
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester City and Chelsea have held exploratory talks and are weighing up potential offers. But it is unclear whether those discussions have progressed into formal proposals to Konate and his representatives.
Would Konate be a good signing?
Konate is a Premier League-proven centre-back. In fact, he has won the competition with the Reds. He has played at the highest level for club and country.
That might exactly be the profile that Chelsea need at this point in time. But do the Blues have the appetite to go out and compete with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and more for the signature of someone like Konate? We are not completely sure about that, to be honest.
Even if Chelsea do not end up signing Konate, let’s hope they go for a centre-back in that bracket. Someone who will walk straight into this starting XI and make an immediate impact. The last thing they need is another project signing.
