Chelsea was among several clubs that showed interest in acquiring Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool while his contract situation was uncertain, according to reports.
As Van Dijk approached the final weeks of his contract, his future remained unclear until he eventually signed a new deal as the season drew to a close.
Although Van Dijk has since stated that his commitment was “always to Liverpool,” various clubs were rumored to be pursuing the esteemed centre-back, with Paris Saint-Germain frequently mentioned.
The prominent Dutch defender was seen conversing with PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos after PSG eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League in the round of 16.
While PSG denied the speculation, it has been reported that Chelsea expressed interest in Van Dijk, as noted by Mail Sport.
The Blues reportedly considered the possibility of signing him but concluded that Van Dijk was not interested in making a move.
Interestingly, Chelsea also contemplated a transfer for Mohamed Salah before he signed a two-year extension to remain at Liverpool.
The Egyptian forward, who had a challenging tenure at Stamford Bridge, was seen as a potential candidate for a return to west London, while Chelsea was viewed as the more proactive party in the unsuccessful pursuit of Van Dijk.
Despite their interest in two players nearing their mid-30s, Chelsea has generally prioritized younger talent under the current ownership structure.
Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s arrival in the summer of 2022, no player over the age of 25 has made a permanent transfer to Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca has a variety of centre-back options available, each with their own limitations, particularly regarding fitness and reliability—issues that Van Dijk has seldom had to confront.