All posts by n8rngtd.top

Celtic have designs on breaking the glass ceiling in the Champions League next term and could now launch a move for a powerful enforcer to help their bid, according to a report.

Celtic's summer window and where they need to strengthen

The Bhoys are currently taking stock before deciding where to prioritise in the market safe in the knowledge that Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan will arrive on free transfers from Arsenal and Aberdeen, respectively.

While the homecoming of the former will be widely celebrated by supporters, Chris Sutton believes time is ticking for Celtic and indicated three bodies are needed to supplement the reigning Scottish champions’ squad between now and the Champions League qualifiers.

He explained: “In an ideal world you’d have two or three new faces reporting for the first day of pre-season, giving them time to bed in ahead of the new campaign and the crucial Champions League qualifiers.

“The transfer market doesn’t always work that way but they will need to move quickly to bring in at the very least three new players.”

Adding another attacking option appears to be their main priority at the moment, and the notion of a sensational Celtic reunion with Kyogo Furuhashi is alive as he is set to be left out of Rennes’ pre-season plans by Habib Beye.

Celtic braced for lowball £8.5m bid as Spurs could hijack forward deal

The Bhoys are fielding interest for star players…

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 7, 2025

Peterborough United’s Harley Mills has been approached by the Bhoys and could add some support behind Tierney at left-back, though the two positions mentioned aren’t the only areas Rodgers may look to bolster during the window.

Taking things up a notch, Celtic have now made contact to sign a midfielder who could add some bite in the engine room if recent developments were to escalate.

Celtic make contact to sign Demir Tiknaz

Per A Bola, Celtic have initiated contact over a potential deal for Turkish defensive midfielder Demir Tiknaz, who spent the campaign gone on loan at Rio Ave from parent club Besiktas.

Intriguingly, the Primeira Liga side are expected to trigger a release clause option to sign the Istanbul-born man for £4.2 million. Then, they will aim to double their money with a quickfire sale at around the £8.4 million mark.

Standing at 6 foot 4 he is currently on duty with the Turkish national team and would add some much-needed steel into an engine room made up primarily of technicians.

Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger and the lack of a deeper like-for-like alternative to the Bhoys’ club captain could now be resolved if negotiations were to accelerate.

Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille are also keen on Tiknaz and will provide stiff competition for his signature, though the carrot of Champions League football at Celtic is something worth dangling for intended targets.

Chelsea are fighting hard on the market despite being away at the Club World Cup and could now be about to take the next step in their pursuit of a winger, according to Simon Phillips.

Chelsea chase Jamie Gittens deal and could sanction surprise exit

Following the Blues’ early spree in the window, Enzo Maresca has set his eyes on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and it has now been confirmed that Chelsea are still well in the fight for his signature.

Taking to social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Londoners have remained in contact to sign the England Under-21 international. Most importantly, out of all transfer options, he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge.

Intriguingly, Noni Madueke could be someone that could make way at Chelsea this summer if the price is right, with Phillips, who we will hear more from later on, stating: “Maybe they even look to end up bringing in two more out-and-out wingers, and they may well need them depending on the future of Noni Madueke as well, who Chelsea will listen to offers for.”

Most supporters wouldn’t be delighted at the prospect of the England international getting sold. From a fan perspective, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling walking through the exit door would be far more productive amid their poor loan spells at AC Milan and Arsenal.

With the transfer merry-go-round now heating up, Chelsea may now be advancing for a star who could send shockwaves around the Premier League if he were to move to West London.

Phillips: Chelsea stepping up Alejandro Garnacho pursuit

Writing in his Si Phillips Talks Chelsea Substack, Phillips has detailed that Chelsea are now discussing a loan-to-buy agreement for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in light of their desire to secure reinforcements out wide.

He explained: “Until now, our sources had not heard too much on Garnacho other than tentative interest. However, we have been hearing more and more noise on this one throughout this week, and fresh info has also just come in on him.

“SPTC sources have heard that Chelsea have been discussing signing Garnacho on a loan to buy deal, just as they did with Jadon Sancho.

“Of course, both players are Manchester United players, so it would not be a deal that would be unfamiliar to either club and could suit both if the fee is right. I’m not sure if it would be a permanent buy with an option to send him back with a fee, or a straight loan with an option/obligation.”

Seemingly forming a similar fashion to their arrangement involving Jadon Sancho, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United would allow what is essentially a ‘try before you buy’ deal after the Blues sent the former Dortmund man back to Old Trafford via a £5 million penalty fee.

Nevertheless, Garnacho, who was praised for his “brilliant” assist for the Red Devils against Real Sociedad earlier this year by Paul Scholes would definitely be a player that would come into starting contention at Stamford Bridge if he were to join this window.

There are plenty of intriguing transfer stories doing the rounds involving Chelsea right now, but this one may be one of the most complicated and multi-faceted deals to conclude, especially with his price tag reportedly sitting at £70 million.

Celtic are in the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch during the summer transfer window, having already added defender Kieran Tierney to the group.

The Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of Sweden international Benjamin Nygren from FC Nordsjælland to add to Brendan Rodgers’ attacking arsenal.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the left-footed star, who usually plays on the right wing, scored 15 goals in 30 matches in the Danish Superliga for his club.

This suggests that the 23-year-old forward could provide a good goal threat for Rodgers on the right flank next season, if he can adapt to Scottish Premiership football.

Celtic keen to sign another winger

Nygren may not be the only wide option added to the Hoops squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, though, as they are also eyeing a left-sided attacker.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha ahead of next season.

The reporter claims that the deal has slowed down in recent weeks, but that all parties, including Royal Antwerp and the Belgian dynamo, are keen for the 24-year-old forward to sign for the Hoops before the window closes.

Tavolieri adds that the Pro League side are demanding a fee in the region of £5m for their star winger, and it is now down to the Scottish giants to stump up the cash to get this deal done.

Why Balikwisha would be as exciting as Nygren for Celtic

If the Scottish giants can wrap up a move for the Belgian wing wizard in the coming days or weeks then he would be a signing that would be as exciting as the pending addition of Nygren.

As aforementioned, the Swedish star is an exciting purchase for the Hoops because of the potential he has to deliver goals on a regular basis from the right wing for Celtic.

Balikwisha, meanwhile, is a winger who carries a dual threat on the left flank as someone who can both score and create goals at a fairly impressive rate, albeit he is coming off the back of an injury-laden year that restricted him to just 12 starts in the Belgian top-flight.

The Royal Antwerp star had scored seven goals and provided five assists in 33 outings in the division during the 2023/24 campaign, before a disrupted season this term.

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian star’s performances in limited minutes this season suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a creator than Nygren does.

Balikwisha, who was described as “creative” by analyst Will Glavin, can consistently create high-quality opportunities to assist his teammates, whilst still offering a threat as a goalscorer.

Therefore, Celtic could have a good balance on the flanks as they would have Nygren to provide a huge goal threat and Balikwisha to be the main creator, whilst both players can also chip in with assists and goals respectively.

This means that both wide players are exciting in their own right, as they offer quality in different departments, and that is why Hoops fans should be excited by the prospect of both stars ending up at Parkhead this summer.

Bigger blow than Kyogo: UCL club in talks to sign "breathtaking" Celtic ace

Celtic are in talks with a European team over a deal for one of their star players.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 23, 2025

Manchester United are exploring deals to improve their squad during the summer transfer window, as they look to add to the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

The Red Devils are reportedly confident that they will be able to complete a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

In the 2024/25 season, the Cameroon international delivered 20 goals and seven assists in all competitions, which suggests that he could add a huge threat to Ruben Amorim’s side next term.

Whilst the signings of Cunha and Mbeumo, if the latter goes through, show that United are looking for Premier League proven performers to help them kick on, the Red Devils are also looking further afield.

Man Utd eyeing up LaLiga ace

As well as wanting to improve their options at the top end of the pitch, by signing players who can score and assist goals, the club would like to improve their midfield.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams in the race to sign Barcelona defensive midfielder Marc Casado this summer.

The report claims that Amorim’s side are interested in a deal to bring the Spaniard over to England, but they have not made contact with the LaLiga champions yet.

It reveals, however, that their Premier League rivals, Chelsea and Arsenal, have spoken to Barcelona to enquire about a potential swoop for the 21-year-old talent.

Caught Offside adds that it will take a fee of around £43m to tempt the Spanish giants into cashing in on the midfielder, despite him having an £86m release clause.

Man Utd could find their next Carrick

If United can get a deal over the line for the Barcelona star this summer, Amorim could unearth his own version of Michael Carrick in the middle of the park.

The former Red Devils star, who recently managed Middlesbrough, was a metronome in midfield for the club during his playing days with his fantastic ability to dictate play with his quality on the ball.

From the 2009/10 season onwards (from when the data became available), the England international completed 88% of his attempted passes in 272 games before the end of his career.

In Casado, United could find a young midfielder with similar qualities to Carrick. However, at the age of 21, he is still very raw and needs time to develop and hit his stride at senior level.

He made 23 appearances for Barcelona in their LaLiga title-winning season last term, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail his “incredible” form, and showcased the kind of qualities that you would associate with the former United midfielder.

As you can see in the table above, he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of possession-based metrics, with both his pass accuracy and progressive passing statistics pointing to his efficiency and effectiveness with the ball at his feet.

These statistics suggest that Casado could be moulded into a Carrick-esque figure for Amorim, as a deep-lying midfielder who can move the ball around and dictate games, whilst being progressive in doing so.

However, Casado only won 53% of his duels, including 28% of his aerial battles, and he may need to improve the physical side of his game to truly thrive in England.

This is why he may not be the finished article right away for Manchester United in the Premier League, but he does have the attributes to potentially develop into Amorim’s own Carrick in the future, or straight away if he can hit the ground running.

Amorim's own Haaland: Man Utd make "world-class" £60m CF their top target

Manchester United appear to be making moves for a new forward in the transfer market.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 11, 2025

Arsenal are now preparing an opening bid for a £52m “monster” who has “given the green light” for a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed.

Gunners looking to bolster attacking options

There have been calls for Mikel Arteta to sign a striker for quite some time, with the manager being forced to use Mikel Merino in a makeshift role during the latter stages of the 2024-25 campaign, and the north Londers are now closing in on a statement signing.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano has revealed the Gunners are making progress in their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres, with the Sweden international eager to leave Sporting CP and various reports suggesting personal terms are agreed.

Not only was Arteta left short on options at striker last season, but the manager also didn’t have much depth out wide, with 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri deputising for Bukayo Saka, while Raheem Sterling failed to make his mark at the Emirates Stadium.

As such, the Spaniard is also looking to bring in a new winger this summer, and Plettenberg has now taken to X to reveal that an opening offer for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is currently “being prepared” and the Gunners have a “full agreement with Madueke until 2030”.

The Sky Sports reporter believes Madueke’s price tag will be around the €60m (£52m) mark, with the deal “on”, although it may have to wait until after the Club World Cup, with the forward fully focussed on his side’s upcoming semi-final against Fluminense.

Talks open: Arsenal submit offer to sign "standout" 17 y/o after Zubimendi

The midfielder is the Gunners’ second summer signing.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 7, 2025

Having “given the green light for the move” across the capital, however, it is clear the Chelsea ace would be keen on a move to Arsenal when the tournament comes to a close.

"Monster" Madueke could be savvy signing for Arsenal

With Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the books, it seems unlikely the 23-year-old would be a regular starter, but the Gunners are in need of additional depth in attack if they are to compete on all fronts next season.

As such, the England international could be a savvy signing, off the back of an impressive 2024-25 campaign, during which he picked up 11 goals and five assists across all competitions.

Personal coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst also described the former PSV Eindhoven man as a “mentality monster”, indicating that he has the personality to be a success at the Emirates Stadium and help Arteta’s side compete for major honours.

That said, a price tag of £52m seems a little on the high side, given that Madueke is yet to prove himself at the very highest level, and Arsenal should attempt to negotiate a deal for a lower fee.

Graham Potter has enough credit in the bank as a Premier League-proven manager to turn around West Ham United’s fortunes.

During his final full season at the helm of Brighton and Hove Albion, the 50-year-old would guide the Seagulls to a fantastic ninth place in the league standings, with the Hammers jumping for joy at a potential top-half finish themselves, after an unsatisfactory 14th spot was sealed last season.

Those watching on week after week at the London Stadium might have expected Potter to hit the ground running with speed when joining last campaign, but with a transfer window soon to be under his belt, he should be able to stamp his authority on proceedings more effectively to try and make his Irons stay a success.

Kyle Walker-Peters is the standout addition so far this summer, having just been picked up on a free transfer deal from Southampton, with another purchase from a recently relegated side looking to be in the works.

West Ham enter race for Premier League star

West Ham are also scouring the rest of the Premier League, away from just looking to raid the unlucky clubs that have unfortunately fallen through the relegation trapdoor.

Indeed, James McAtee is reportedly on their shopping list from Manchester City, although his £35m valuation might prove to be too steep, whilst Harvey Elliott is also allegedly on the Hammers’ radar from City’s rivals in Liverpool.

They are also setting their sights on Leicester City when attempting to add in some fresh bodies centrally, with journalist Ben Jacobs recently revealing, when talking to talkSPORT, that Potter and Co. are keen on Wilfred Ndidi’s services.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Jacobs does state that there could be an intense race ahead for the Nigerian’s in-demand signature, owing to the likes of Manchester and Everton also keeping an eye out on the 28-year-old as a potential recruit:

“A quick word on West Ham United because now that they’ve sold Mohammad Kudus to Tottenham, I expect West Ham to have a little bit more financial leeway to really get going. My expectation is that Graeme Potter is going to be pushing this window for an attacking midfielder and also a number six.

“And the latest player that I’ve heard on the radar for number six is Wilfred Ndidi, who has been discussed by Manchester United, Everton, Real Betis and Juventus and even Saudi. There are so many clubs in for Ndidi that my feeling is that it will resolve itself relatively quickly.”

Yet, if West Ham wants to finally fill the void left behind by Declan Rice’s exit in the middle of the park, they might have to flex their muscles and advance to the front of the queue for Ndidi.

How Ndidi can help West Ham to finally replace Rice

Expecting the £75k-per-week talent to instantly be West Ham’s new answer to the England international straight away is a lot to ask.

He is well accustomed to the pressures of the Premier League already, though, having notched up 220 top-flight appearances for the Foxes to date, meaning he should be able to perform with the same confidence centrally that Rice showed in spades when he was still situated in East London.

Before taking his game to an unbelievable new level at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal – with the £105m talent now not looking out of place against world beaters Real Madrid – Rice was well-known as a vibrant and lively midfield option at his boyhood employers, with a split second ability to fire home a stunning strike in his locker, just like this one he arrowed home back in 2021 for the Hammers.

But, he also had a bite present in his game that made him a formidable foe to come up against, as seen in him winning a high 4.4 duels on average in league action during his swansong campaign at the London Stadium.

Looking at the table above, Ndidi seemingly operated in a very similar manner to a much rawer Rice for his relegation-doomed side last campaign, with a willingness to push up the pitch and get involved in attacks seen in his five assists, away from his further seven goals across his entire Premier League playing days.

However, it’s also his desire to get stuck in from deep, away from just bombing forward, which makes him an ideal candidate to finally fill that Rice-shaped hole, with a hefty 6.3 duels won on average.

In contrast to the “absolute monster” of a midfielder – as described by ESPN’s Colin Udoh – despite being in the form of his life now at the Emirates, the ex-Hammers number 41 would only win 3.4 himself across the same span.

Labelled as a “first-class” talent by Brendan Rodgers when the pair were together at the King Power Stadium, West Ham might well deem winning the services of Ndidi as a more important venture now than replacing Mohammed Kudus, especially if it finally allows for the heartbreak of Rice’s departure to be put to bed.

Their new Kudus: West Ham open first talks to sign "intelligent" £30m star

West Ham United could snap up their next Mohammed Kudus by signing this £30m attacker.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 22, 2025

Mikel Arteta has been hailed as "one of the best coaches in the world" ahead of Arsenal's Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The 43-year-old is highly rated among his peers and the Spanish side's boss, Ernesto Valverde, has lauded him as one of the game's elite managers.

• Arsenal boss Arteta lauded as one of the best

  Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League trip to Athletic Club on Tuesday, the Spanish outfit's manager, Valverde, has extolled the quality of Arteta as a coach. He got to see what they can do firsthand in Arsenal's 3-0 win over his La Liga team in pre-season, and now he believes they are one of the favourites to win this elite European tournament as well.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What Athletic Club boss Valverde said

  When asked how highly he rates Arteta, Valverde said: "As one of the best coaches in the world, surely. What he is doing in Arsenal proves it. I do not say it just because Arsenal has great players, but because of what they do, how they play, their spirit, how they press you, how they do not let you play, how insistent they are in each duel. And then, at the time of the game, with the quality of technique they have, it is difficult to press them very high because they have resources to go out and play in the space. It is clear that when you are playing with one of the favourite teams to win the competition, it can be Arsenal, or one of the favourites to win the Premier League, it is clear that you have to tune very fine and take advantage of the opportunities that you can have and not concede too many. We have to admit that and we have to know what we have in front of us."

• Time to deliver for Arsenal

  Arsenal have their strongest squad in years and will believe they can end their 21-year wait to win the Premier League. They have never won the Champions League, and Arteta hasn't won a trophy for the Gunners since 2020. If Arteta wants to keep his job, he may have to deliver some silverware this season, and the Champions League would be the jewel in the crown.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arsenal likened to Real Madrid and Barcelona

  Valverde added that preparing for this Arsenal clash is akin to getting ready to face Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

  He said, "It is like when Real Madrid and Barcelona come to play at that level. You have to make a perfect game to show your virtues and try to minimise what they can do to you, which can be a lot. We just played with them recently in the pre-season, and we know more or less how they play and the level they have."

When Liverpool announced the arrival of Hugo Ekitike earlier this week, it would have been easy to assume that the Reds had ended their search for a striker. But since then, there has been an almighty twist to the tale.

As reported by David Ornstein and the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Alexander Isak now wants to leave Newcastle United this summer and explore options elsewhere. The Swede was sent home from the Magpies’ friendly against Celtic amid all the speculation, before being left out of their Asia tour courtesy of a ‘thigh injury’.

However, it has since emerged that Isak was left out of the tour after his request to leave St James’ Park ahead of next season. It’s an undeniable blow for the Magpies – their biggest yet in a summer full of disappointment – but Newcastle’s loss could quickly become Liverpool’s gain.

Liverpool informed Newcastle before signing Ekitike that they were willing to break their club record for the second time this summer to sign Isak in a £120m deal. And whilst that becomes more difficult after splashing out £69m to welcome their new French forward, fresh sales could yet leave Liverpool in dreamland.

With the potential to have both Isak and Ekitike at their disposal, AI assistant Grok has predicted and ranked the different formations that Liverpool could use to incorporate the two forwards.

3

4-4-2 (dual strikers)

The natural way to accommodate two talented strikers would be to play the trusty and reliable 4-4-2. The sytem would be a new one for Arne Slot, but could be one worth playing if he is to get the best out of Isak and Ekitike.

In this formation, Isak would likely take up the role of primary goalscorer whilst Ekitike takes up the job of chief creator. The latter’s task would be to drop slightly deeper into the No.10 role or even the false 9 role that Liverpool fans will know so well from Roberto Firmino’s time at the club and provide the link between midfield and attack.

Isak, meanwhile, would be asked to do the very thing that only Mohamed Salah did better than him in the Premier League last season and that’s score goals. The big questions here, though, would be whether Slot would be willing to sacrifice his numbers in midfield and just where he would find a place for Florian Wirtz.

2

4-2-3-1 (Ekitike as No.10)

There is, of course, another way around this. Liverpool could simply revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation – which they used at times last season to great success – and utilise Ekitike as a No.10. The former Frankfurt forward would then have Isak in front of him and likely Cody Gakpo and Salah beside him.

Suddenly, Slot would have a scintilating front four all featuring at once. The last time that Liverpool had something close to such attacking quality were the few months prior to Philippe Coutinho’s exit when the Brazilian stood alongside Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino. Years later, however, Anfield could be about to see that front four eclipsed.

Alas, there are some downsides to the 4-2-3-1. Where would Wirtz slot in? Liverpool broke the British transfer record to sign the German and for very good reason. There’s no disputing that he should be an instant starter. What’s more, there would be question marks over Ekitike’s ability to remain consistent as No.10 with such little experience in the role.

The Frenchman would be shoe-horned in more than anything and there’s certainly a better way for Slot to get the best out of every one of his stars if Liverpool sign Isak.

1

4-3-3 (Ekitike wide left)

Another option, and one that Slot is more familiar with, would be a 4-3-3 with Ekitike playing out wide. Forming a front three between Ekitike, Isak and Salah, the Reds would have their best trio since Mane, Firmino and Salah and one that would arguably be capable of putting up similar numbers.

Given that Luis Diaz could yet join Bayern Munich in a big-money deal this summer too, moving Ekitike into his left-wing spot would certainly make sense. There may be some concerns that the Frenchman lacks experience in the role, given that he played just 5% of his minutes at Eintracht Frankfurt on the wing, but he certainly has the creative talent.

With 12 assists to his name last season, Ekitike could provide a similar threat to Cody Gakpo by cutting in from the left-hand side using his physical stature. Isak, meanwhile, would once again benefit from the No.9 role, whilst Wirtz could take his much-needed role in midfield.

In terms of familiarity and player roles, utilising a 4-3-3 looks like the best way that Slot would be able to take a squad full of stars to a second-consecutive Premier League title.

Erling Haaland has offered a blunt "I am British" response to questions on social media of why his accent has "turned". The prolific Manchester City striker, who has smashed another Champions League goal record, is a proud performer for Norway at international level. He was, however, born in the UK during his father Alf Inge's time in the Premier League.

• Where was Haaland born?

  Haaland senior represented Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City during his time in English football. Erling was born during that period, in July 2000. He was welcomed into the world at a hospital in Leeds.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Haaland has always been a fan of Leeds

  Haaland has never hidden his love for all things Leeds, with the West Yorkshire city and football club forever holding a special place in his heart. The 25-year-old frontman makes no attempt to shy away from those geographical roots.

• Norway is home for the Haaland family

  He was always going to represent Norway, as that nation represents ‘home’ for his family, but he spent the early years of his life in England. A move to Bryne – the home town of his parents – was made at three years of age.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Haaland's blunt response to accent question

  Haaland has followed in his father’s footsteps at City, moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2022. His northern upbringing can shine through at times, with the mercurial striker responding to a question on Snapchat that asked why his "accent has turned so British" by saying: "Because I am British."

Chelsea are now preparing a £43m offer for a “world-class” Real Madrid target, who could be brought in as a replacement for Levi Colwill, according to a report.

Blues readying bid for centre-back after Colwill blow

There were always concerns that competing in the Club World Cup may have a negative knock-on effect going into the new season, and the Blues have already suffered a major injury blow, with Colwill set to miss most of the campaign due to an ACL injury.

Since then, Enzo Maresca has hinted that another centre-back could be brought in to account for the loss of the 22-year-old, with the manager saying: “It depends – we will wait and see.

“You know in our way, how important Levi has been. I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him – and he was a main player for us.”

It has since been revealed that the west Londoners are expected to make a bid for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo imminently, but a Premier League centre-back has also now entered the frame as a potential option…

That is according to reports in Spain, which state Chelsea are now preparing a €50m (£43m) offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who is also being targeted by Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid.

Madrid are confident about securing Konate’s signature on a free transfer next summer, upon the expiration of his contract, but the Blues have now entered the race, and they are willing to pay the exact amount Liverpool are looking for.

It's not Palmer: PSG now submit £130m offer for "unbelievable" Chelsea star

Paris Saint-Germain have launched a bid for one of the Blues’ key players.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 11, 2025

At present, however, a move to Real Madrid is still the most likely outcome, given that the Reds are reluctant to strengthen one of their direct Premier League rivals, and the player himself is leaning towards a move to the Santiago Bernabéu.

"World-class" Konate would be major coup for Chelsea

In truth, it seems unlikely that the Blues will be able to get a deal done, considering the French defender has no reason to leave the reigning Premier League champions, and Liverpool are hesitant to let him move to Stamford Bridge.

However, the Reds are at risk of losing the 26-year-old on a free transfer if they don’t cash-in this summer, which means it could be tempting to sanction a sale, and he could be a fantastic acquisition for the Blues.

The France international played a major role in Liverpool’s 2024-25 Premier League title triumph, making 31 appearances, and journalist David Lynch believes he is now “world-class”.

Konate is clearly entering the prime of his career, and it would be a major coup if Chelsea were able to get a deal done, but it seems extremely unlikely that Arne Slot’s side will agree to a sale, given that they are already light on centre-back options.