Chelsea have been informed by Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent, Fali Ramadani, that it will take €40m to sign him this summer.
That’s according to Corriere Dello Sport, who say the defender is set to meet with Napoli this week to discuss a possible exit.
The newspaper explains that Napoli do not want to lose Koulibaly this summer, and president Aurelio de Laurentiis has offered him a five-year deal worth €6m a year.
The Senegal star has declined this offer, though, knowing he is ‘in demand on the market’ at this moment in time.
Both Chelsea and Barcelona are ‘in the background’ considering a deal, while Juventus have also shown an interest. However, it’s claimed Koulibaly has no intention of moving to Turin, and Napoli will not negotiate with Juventus anyway.
The ‘risk of a transfer’ exists nonetheless, provided the offer is right, and Chelsea have been informed by the player’s agent that a €40m bid would be needed.
Whether they’re willing to pay that price isn’t mentioned, but the Blues are in need of defensive signings this summer after losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Cesar Azpilicueta has also been linked with a move away.
Koulibaly will therefore meet with Napoli this week at their training camp, for a face-to-face meeting to determine his future.
That meeting is expected to be a cordial one, but Koulibaly’s refusal of the ‘pharaonic’ contract offer made to him is a strong suggestion he wants out.
If he does not leave this summer, it will be next as his contract expires in 2023, so it is in Napoli’s interests to sell this year rather than lose him on a free. Whether that’s to Chelsea remains to be seen.
