Two days ago, Gianluca Di Marzio reported Chelsea made contact with Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent, during the representatives trip to London.
His deal runs down in 2023 and Napoli have not been successful in getting the defender to agree a new contract so far.
Chelsea continue to be named as keen on the 31-year-old, if reports coming out of Italy are to be believed.
According to journalist Alfredo Pedullà, the Senegal international’s priority is to continue with the Naples club, while the Blues remain in the picture for him.
“Koulibaly continues to prioritise Napoli, to try to reach a renewal for the contract. The club are willing to make an exception for him with respect to the salary ceiling set at €3m for the other players,” Pedullà told Sportitalia, relayed by CalcioNapoli1926.
“To find an agreement, an offer is needed. from €6m: the next few days will be decisive for the future of the Senegalese, Napoli, and the transfer market of other clubs such as Chelsea.”
Auriemma further details the fee Thomas Tuchel’s side or another club will have to pay to please Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis to sanction a sale this summer.
“We are waiting to understand what can happen with Koulibaly, as the president, Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to sell him, but asks for €40m and knows that it is difficult to find a buyer willing to go that high in terms of price tag,” Auriemma told Radio Marte, relayed by Area Napoli.
“Juventus want to give it to him, this money; the president is willing to give him to Juve, but he can’t do it; he could only do so if Koulibaly publicly said he wanted to go.
“Kalidou, however, won’t do it, because he knows that he would end up in the same trap as Dries Mertens.
“Napoli matures the idea of losing him to zero, if an offer does not arrive from outside. It is very likely that Chelsea will come and get him, because the Blues’ alternatives cost too much: I am referring to Skriniar and De Ligt, who have even higher valuations.”
