Newcastle in “pole position” for signing – Liverpool and Man Utd offer more “charm” but less money

Newcastle United are in “pole position” to sign defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli this summer.

That’s according to Area di Rigore journalist Paolo Esposito, who says the Magpies are offering more than Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United for the centre back.

Koulibaly is widely expected to leave the Serie A club this summer, with both him and Napoli having accepted it is time for him to move on.

Newcastle have been heavily linked with making a move, with it believed their potential new owners are eyeing up the Senegalese international as a marquee signing.

They are not the only Premier League side to have been linked though. Manchester United are known to have a longstanding interest in the 28-year-old, while Liverpool have recently been linked as well.

It is Newcastle who are leading the race, though, having offered more money in terms of a transfer fee and his wage packet, at least according to Esposito.

“Juventus do not have the economic strength to buy the Neapolitan Kalidou Koulibaly,” Arena Napoli report him saying.

“I believe he, will go to the Premier League, where there is Newcastle in pole position.

“Then there are Manchester United and Liverpool, who have much more charm than Newcastle but offer less, both for the card and for the engagement.

“Of course, if Koulibaly went to Liverpool, he would form a stratospheric couple with Virgil van Dijk! The best defensive couple in the world!”