Manchester City are currently the only side in the race for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who is expected to leave this summer.
That’s according to Il Mattino, who cover the centre back’s future today as part of a wide-ranging piece about Napoli’s potential transfer business.
The Serie A side are expected to undergo something of an overhaul, with several of their big-name players all linked with exits.
Koulibaly is among them, with reports that both he and the club have accepted that now is the perfect time for them to bring their relationship to an end.
Naturally, the Senegalese star has been linked with a move to all of Europe’s elite sides, with a move to the Premier League one of the more prevalent rumours.
Manchester City are among those in England to be named as suitors but, according to Il Mattino, they are the only club currently pursuing a move.
They explain that while Koulibaly is not currently on Napoli’s sell list, there have been negotiations about what ‘conditions’ it would take for him to seal an exit.
Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis has made it clear to the player and his agent, Fali Ramadani, that he ‘needs’ at least €90m to sanction a deal.
That has scared off many of his suitors, who know ‘it will not be easy’ to match such a high asking price in the current, Coronavirus affected, financial landscape.
As a result, ‘there is only Manchester City’ in the hunt for him, but even they are wary, with their finances, vast as they may be, also affected because of COVID-19.
They also have the issue of Financial Fair Play to navigate around. While those rules have been relaxed this year, City have already been punished by FIFA after irregularities in the past.
That is a case they are still fighting at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and even if they should win, it seems unlikely they will want to rock the boat again with a huge purchase such as Koulibaly.
