Exclusive claims Chelsea looked at €35m Liverpool target in January | OneFootball

Chelsea have bought so many centre backs in the last few years, but they don’t show any signs of slowing down now.

For all the money spent in recent windows, the Blues haven’t been able to find the elite, dominant option who they can build a team around. That’s what everyone wants – the “new Virgil Van Dijk.” It’s easier said that done.

Another team who will be needing a new Van Dijk soon are Liverpool, who are set to lose the current Van Dijk on a free transfer in the summer. While it’s possible he stays, they will need a succession plan anyway, and a target they’re looking at is David Hanko of Feyenoord, valued at €35m on TransferMarkt.

CaughtOffside exclusively claim that Liverpool are one of the teams chasing the Slovakia international, who is focusing on finishing the season in Holland before potentially making a big move this summer. The Reds certainly have the edge in this chase, in part because they can offer Champions League football and a title challenge, but also because their manager Arne Slot was the man who brought Hancko through at Feyenoord.

Chelsea still search for star defender to take team to the next level

David Hancko celebrates a Feyenood goal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

How do Chelsea come into this? Well they apparently looked at Hancko in January, with Tottenham also interested. In the end they were happy to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan, but with Axel Disasi loaned out and looking likely to leave, plus Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile unable to stay fit, there’s certainly potential for another signing this summer.

Other top targets at the back include Ousmane Diomande, who has been linked today and pried at around €60m, and long term target (and Chelsea academy product) Marc Guehi, who also looks like he will be on the move this summer.