Chelsea are ‘clearly ahead’ of the competition in the race for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly this summer.
That’s according to journalist Massimo Brambati, who reports that the Blues are ahead of their Premier League rivals in the hunt for his signature.
Koulibaly is widely expected to bring his time at Napoli to an end this summer, with both parties accepting that it is time for a move.
Indeed Napoli could end having to sell regardless of their wishes, with Kouliably’s high contract set to cause issues at the club if they don’t qualify for the Champions League.
Naturally, all of the elite clubs around Europe have been credited with an interest, particularly in the Premier League, with both Manchester clubs and Liverpool named as suitors.
However, it is Chelsea who are out in front, with Brambati claiming they have the edge over their competitors at this moment in time.
“I have received three market news,” he told 7 Gold, relayed by Arena Napoli.
“The most important one concerns Naples. They tell me that Kalidou Koulibaly will leave Naples.
“On his trail, there are three clubs: Chelsea, Manchester United and City coached by Spanish coach Pep Guardiola.
“Chelsea would be clearly ahead of the other two clubs.”
This latest development in the Koulibaly saga is undoubtedly an interesting one as Chelsea have not been as heavily linked as everyone else thus far.
On paper, he’s a signing that would make sense, with Frank Lampard’s side struggling defensively and him a player that would significantly upgrade them in that department.
However, at 28, he hardly fits in with the youth revolution that Lampard has overseen making it debatable whether this interest is genuine or an agent ramping up further interest in his client.
