Aston Villa and Newcastle United are reportedly set to rival Barcelona and a host of other clubs in the race to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
According to Calciomercato.it, Napoli defensive mainstay Kalidou Koulibaly is set to spark a transfer battle for his services in the summer as several top clubs from across Europe are vying to sign him. Barcelona have been credited with a strong interest in the 30-year-old, but the Catalans will now face competition from Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Koulibaly has been with Napoli for eight years now, having arrived from KRC Genk back in 2014. During his time with the Partenopei, the Senegalese defender has grown into one of the most reliable centre-backs in the game and has played a key role in Napoli’s growth as regulars in European competitions.
Koulibaly has been linked with an exit from Naples on several occasions in the past. However, a move never materialised due to president Aurelio De Laurentiis’s outrageous asking price. But, that could change this summer as the 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract with the Serie A outfit and has turned down an offer to extend his deal.
It will likely force Napoli to cash in on the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations winner, with an offer of €35 million considered enough to convince the Italians. And Koulibaly’s potential availability this summer has alerted a host of clubs, with Barcelona being now joined by Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Barcelona will strengthen their backline this summer with the signing of Andreas Christensen, who will arrive from Chelsea on a Bosman deal. However, given Gerard Pique’s fitness woes in the season gone by, coupled with the uncertain futures of Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti, adding another defender would make sense for Xavi’s side, with Koulibaly emerging as a viable target.
But, Barcelona will have to stave off competition from Aston Villa, who are enjoying a stunning transfer window already. The Villans have already signed Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara, while they have agreed a deal to bring in Diego Carlos from Sevilla. But Steven Gerrard is seeking further reinforcements to his defence after Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings underperformed last season.
A deal for Calvin Bassey is believed to be close, but if there is an opportunity to sign a defensive stalwart like Koulibaly, Aston Villa are likely to go for it, as it could help them bridge the gap to the top six. The same goes for Newcastle United as well, who are preparing for a huge season under their new owners after navigating the relegation battle in the 2021/22 campaign.
Eddie Howe is focusing on adding more quality to his defensive roster that is expected to shed some members like Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark in the summer. A player of Koulibaly’s stature would certainly elevate the level of the entire squad and provide Newcastle United with a leader for their project.
While both Aston Villa and Newcastle United are showing great ambitions, their lack of Champions League football could come as a blow, as Koulibaly is reportedly keen on playing in Europe’s top tier competition. With clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan and PSG also interested, the Premier League clubs might find it tough to land him.
