Blues on high risk to lose player, Club regret decision to let player leave, as Chelsea eye Dortmund No.8 midfielder
Chelsea at risk of losing transfer race for RB Leipzig defender
Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping tabs on Chelsea transfer target Ibrahima Konate.
The 21-year-old French centre-back has caught the eye of multiple clubs with his performances for RB Leipzig this campaign.
RB Leipzig are set to lose Konate’s compatriot Dayot Upamecano to Bayern Munich in the summer and the club are now running the risk of losing Ibrahima as well.
The French star is one of the defenders Manchester United are keeping tabs on and he is also on the shortlist of Thomas Tuchel’s side.
And according to the Spanish sports daily newspaper AS, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also keen on Konate.
The Catalan side have identified him as their top target for the summer transfer market as they look to invest in their defence.
Real Madrid have also shortlisted him as a possible target as they look to bring in a top-class defender ahead of next season.
The powerful defender has more than two years left on his current deal and has a buy-out clause of €45m.
Chelsea rue decision to let English centre-half depart Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s board accept they made a big mistake in allowing defender Fikayo Tomori to complete a loan switch to AC Milan last summer, according to the latest in Italy.
The 23-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements after dropping down the pecking order under then-manager Frank Lampard and Milan reached a season-long agreement for the player’s services, with an option to buy him outright for €28 million (£24 million).
The England international quickly settled into life in Serie A and hit the ground running with a series of outstanding showings in Serie A, impressing head coach Stefano Pioli and fans alike.
Milan senior figure Paolo Maldini, arguably the greatest defender in the club’s management, has also waxed lyrical about FIkayo and hinted that a permanent deal could be on the cards this summer transfer window.
Gazzetta dello Sport state Tomori’s recent displays against Napoli, Roma and Manchester United ‘brought the personality of a potential champion into focus’ and have led his current side to seriously consider coughing up the required £24 million for his signature, in spite of their financial difficulties.
The report suggests the Blues ‘already regret’ the loan deal and fear losing the centre-half for good.
They have been heavily criticised in the past for letting talented and young players leave too easily and are desperate to avoid history repeating itself with Fikayo, who has been with the club since U8 level.
Chelsea keeping close eye on Dortmund No.8 midfielder
Chelsea and Manchester City are among the teams monitoring Borussia Dortmund star Mahmoud Dahoud.
The 25-year-old star will enter the final year of his contract at the Westfalenstadion in the summer with a number of Premier League sides keen on his services.
The Syria-born Germany international signed for Dortmund from Borussia Monchengladbach back in 2017, a deal agreed while Thomas Tuchel was still in charge of the former.
But by the time he arrived at the club, the German had moved onto new pastures.
Liverpool was strongly linked with a swoop for Dahoud prior to his move to Dortmund along with the Blues and the Citizens with the Daily Mail now claiming interest remains from Stamford Bridge and The Etihad.
Tottenham and Everton are also understood to be interested in the player.
Dahoud has emerged as an important player under interim coach Edin Terzic in the latest weeks, netting twice during a run of five wins and a draw in their last seven matches with the club booking their place in the quarter-finals of the UCL.
Chelsea are expected to try and bolster the midfield during the summer transfer window with a new centre-forward also thought to be high up Tuchel’s wishlist.
The west Londoners are among the clutch of clubs hoping to land Dahoud’s Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland in the summer with City and Manchester United also showing interest in the 20-year-old ace.