The summer transfer window has not even started yet and already, some of the positivity is dripping away from Chelsea. The fans had been excited by the appointment of Xabi Alonso. But it has always been clear that the club needed to back him properly in the summer transfer window in order to get things back on track. Just bringing in the Spaniard won’t magically solve their problems. It would just plaster over the cracks.
It is well and good to think the talent is already there. The results do not lie though. This team has never been able to perform consistently, even at their best under Enzo Maresca.
Yet, it has been suggested that Chelsea are looking to sign just two starting-level players this summer. Most fans believe they need a lot more than that. And if the Ibrahima Konate saga is anything to go by, it does not look like they are going to be in the mix for high-level players either.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Konate is set to join Real Madrid if or when Florentino Perez is elected. There is a verbal agreement on a four-year deal.
Why Chelsea fans won’t like Fabrizio Romano’s update on Ibrahima Konate
Chelsea need to bring in players with proven experience and quality this summer. Most would say that Konate ticks both those boxes.
Konate has played at the very highest levels possible. He won the Premier League as a starter. His teams have gone to the Champions League and World Cup finals.
It does not get bigger than that. And while he does make mistakes from time to time, there is no way he would be a starter if he did not have quality.
Yet, it has been reported in the recent past that Chelsea were not ready to meet the financial demands that would make a deal possible. And if they can’t do that for Konate, one can only wonder which other players they would be open to do it for.
Why Liverpool fans won’t like this
Konate becomes another player who leaves Liverpool to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Last time around, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold making the same move.
And at this point, one can only wonder if every top free agent is going to end up at Real Madrid. They have certainly found a way to make these deals happen consistently over the last few years.
As for Chelsea, they do need to sign a centre-back. It remains to be seen if they can bring in somebody of Konate’s level.
