Chelsea are willing to sell Kalidou Koulibaly in January after disappointing with his performances since the summer move.
According to Fichajes, Chelsea could listen to offers for Kalidou Koulibaly despite only signing the defender in the summer. The Senegal international’s performances have disappointed the recruitment team, who may entertain proposals in January.
Kalidou Koulibaly was a masterstroke of a signing meant to solidify Chelsea’s options at the back. The Senegal international got heralded as a perfect replacement for Antonio Rudiger, who left on a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Chelsea paid a whopping €38 million for the 31-year-old centre-back after a few consistent years leading the Napoli backline. The Naples side were happy to take the money for the defender. Koulibaly had a decent start, scoring against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, signalling his arrival in the Premier League.
Known for his physical prowess and speed, Koulibaly had forged the reputation of a hard-fought centre-back in Italy’s top flight. Since moving to Chelsea, he has been nowhere near the player he once was with Napoli. His displays have disappointed the Chelsea recruitment team.
Chelsea are reportedly considering a sale of the defender and remains open to entertaining proposals in January. The summer signing has struggled for consistency, and since Graham Potter’s arrival, he has spent more time on the bench than on the pitch.
The report suggests Chelsea feel they can recoup a significant chunk of the €38 million invested in the defender in January. They believe, Koulibaly still has a huge market, and proposals could arrive if the defender is up for sale.
The Blues are already seeking a new defender in Koulibaly’s position, with Josko Gvardiol their primary target. The Croatian international fits with the project embarked under new owner Todd Boehly. At 20 years of age, he can become the leader of the backline for years to come.
Chelsea are the front-runners for Gvardiol, and if they can manage to broker a deal, that would signal the end for Koulibaly. It’s unlikely they would recoup anywhere close to the €38 million they paid for the summer signing. They could still get a reasonable price in the current market.
Koulibaly considers himself motivated and could bank on having a long career. He may still get a few chances to save his Chelsea career, but overall it may appear the decision to sell him is already made.
