By OkayGoal
Richard Hughes wasted no time picking up the phone on Wednesday night, going straight to Chelsea with one very direct question.
Liverpool to replace Mo Salah with Chelsea winger?
Was Estevao available? By all accounts the response from Stamford Bridge was frosty at best, with the Blues effectively telling Liverpool to call back tomorrow rather than entertain anything there and then.
That coolness didn’t last long, though, because Chelsea have since made their position clear to any interested party. They’ll discuss a deal for Estevao, but only from £85 million upwards.
Update: Chelsea have informed all clubs they are willing to discuss a deal starting from £85m.
This has scared clubs! 😲 https://t.co/SKH4F2pjKw
— indykaila News (@indykaila) August 31, 2026
There are a couple of targets if Estevao Liverpool transfer couldn’t materialise
It’s not hard to see why Liverpool are so keen. With Mohamed Salah gone and Cody Gakpo reportedly closing in on a move to Manchester City for a similar fee, Andoni Iraola is short of options on the right flank, and short of time as well with the deadline creeping up fast. Estevao has had a stop start season by his own high standards, managing just two appearances so far after a hamstring injury disrupted his rhythm last term, but the talent has never really been in question. Eight goals and four assists in his debut campaign in England tell their own story, and Enzo Maresca has already gone on record valuing him north of £100 million.
Chelsea, for their part, seem entirely unmoved by the interest. Estevao only joined from Palmeiras last year and has been earmarked as a long term project rather than a short term asset to be cashed in on at the first sign of admiration from a rival. Liverpool have also been linked with Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as alternatives, which tells you just how stretched their options currently are.
Whether Hughes comes back with an improved offer before the window shuts remains to be seen, but Chelsea have made their intentions plain enough.
If Liverpool want Estevao, they’ll be paying a premium for the privilege, and even then there’s no guarantee Stamford Bridge budges at all.