Manchester City are ‘still some way off’ finalising a summer transfer for SSC Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Sky Sports.
Pep Guardiola’s Etihad Stadium natives are anticipated to make Koulibaly their second centre-back signing of the summer following the Sky Blues’ £41million deal for AFC Bournemouth ace Nathan Ake.
The Citizens are keen to further bolster their backline in the current window having made defensive reinforcements a priority at both Koulibaly’s position and at left-back.
But deals to sign competition for Benjamin Mendy and add depth behind Aymeric Laporte and Ake are not believed to be close, even though City are eager to finalise their business by the start of the new Premier League campaign on September 12.
A potential hurdle in City’s pursuit of Koulibaly is Napoli’s asking price, which Sky Sports suggest Guardiola could look to get around by offloading at least one of his current group.
Reports from Spain have suggested discussions are underway with Valencia over the future of Nicolas Otamendi, while claims closer to home have suggested the Sky Blues only value the Argentine at around £8million.
Should Pep break the bank for Koulibaly?
Yes
No
Koulibaly would certainly improve the backline at the Etihad Stadium next season, and European football expert Gabriele Marcotti believes the Senegal international would serve as the successor Guardiola needed for Vincent Kompany a year ago.
“Koulibaly is an exceptional defender,” Marcotti told Sky Sports. “He’s an intelligent player and a great leader. He has a lot of the Kompany-type qualities that you would want.
“He would also cost a fortune because from Napoli’s perspective, they’re at the stage where they don’t need to sell him. They would have to get an offer which would be hard to refuse. There was talk of a non-official agreement where if they got an £80m or £90m offer, they would let him go. But that is a ton of money to spend on a guy who is 29 years old.”
There have been reports suggesting Man City have pulled out of the race to sign Koulibaly this summer, with it suggested the Sky Blues will not make an approach for the Senegalese star because of Napoli’s eye-watering asking price.
Pulling out of the race would leave the door wide open for Manchester United, as it has been noted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a keen admirer and is looking for a new partner at Old Trafford for Harry Maguire.