Manchester United have reportedly had a bid worth £80 million for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who is also a target for Chelsea.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Manchester United will have to raise their offer for Kalidou Koulibaly after seeing an £80 million bid being knocked back by Napoli. The Partenopei are demanding over £89 million for the Senegalese defender, who is also being tailed by Chelsea.
Koulibaly joined Napoli from KRC Genk in the summer of 2014, and has since gone on to become one of the best defenders in the world. A mainstay at the back for the Serie A outfit over the last four years, the Senegalese defender has played a huge role in the club’s ascendancy to the top echelons of Italian football.
Koulibaly has, in fact, featured in every single game for Napoli this season, suggesting he has retained his role as a key player under new manager Carlo Ancelotti as well. But, his progress at San Paolo has attracted a number of clubs, with Manchester United and Chelsea being chief among his suitors.
Manchester United’s desperate search for a top class centre-back is well documented. Jose Mourinho has not given up his bid to land a game changing central defender to his squad despite falling short in the summer. The Red Devils have thus, been linked with a number of players, with Koulibaly being one of the targets.
Chelsea, on the other hand, could be in need of a centre-back as well. While Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz are developing a decent understanding at the heart of the Blues’ defence, Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill are growing increasingly frustrated over the lack of regular game time coming their way.
Cahill, in particular, looks set to leave Chelsea, either in January or next summer, with Manchester United coincidentally being one of his suitors. Additionally, with Luiz being on the wrong side of 30, Koulibaly is someone who could be a world class replacement in central defence.
Manchester United though, already seem to have stepped up their interest in the 27-year-old, having tabled a bid worth £80 million. But, the offer was swiftly rejected by Napoli, which keeps Chelsea and other suitors in the running. But, the offer is not too far from the Partenopei’s valuation, which stands at £89 million.
Considering Koulibaly signed a new five-year deal at San Paolo earlier this season, the ball certainly is in Napoli’s court. Additionally, with several other clubs showing some sort of an interest in the player, the Italian heavyweights can afford to demand a premium for him.
It will now be interesting to see if Manchester United are willing to match Napoli’s valuation of the 27-year-old, or if Chelsea end up usurping them. As things stand, however, the Gli Azzurri are unlikely to part ways with Koulibaly, especially if they are in the running across all three fronts in the winter, meaning the Premier League duo could end up setting their sights elsewhere.
