Chelsea have joined the hunt for RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, turning their attention to him after missing out on Dayot Upamecano.
It’s believed the Blues are keen to add a centre back to their squad this summer and had targeted Upamecano before his decision to join Bayern Munich last month.
That left them, and his plethora of other suitors, looking elsewhere at potential options, but it seems those at Stamford Bridge did not stray too far, instead turning their attention to the Frenchman’s partner at Leipzig, Konaté.
He’s also impressed for the Germans in recent years and has found himself regularly linked with a move the Premier League as a result, with Liverpool and Manchester United known to be admirers.
Chelsea can now be added to that list, according to SportBILD journalist Christian Falk, who says they have the upper hand on the competition courtesy of a connection with the player via Thomas Tuchel’s backroom staff.
“So Dayot Upamecano is off the market after Bayern got him, and David Alaba will also be quite difficult as he wants to go to Real Madrid,” he told BILD.
“That’s why the focus is very much on Konaté in Leipzig at the moment, and I’ve heard that Chelsea would like to get him because of Upamecano.
“They would have liked to have him, but they can’t get him, and Tuchel is learning a lesson from his co-trainer Zsolt Löw because he knows Konaté from their time together at Leipzig.
“He is now conveying a bit in the courting process what the plan is and, of course, give a bit of confidence and say “boy, you know me, if I said you have a great future, then do that.
“So it’s very good for Tuchel, and that’s why I think they’re very far ahead.”
