According to an update on the Transfer Window podcast, Man City are close to signing Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly and personal terms are ‘all but agreed’ – with the two clubs making ‘successful’ progress in negotiations over a potential fee.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been heavily linked with the centre-back ever since the transfer window’s opening, and now journalists Duncan Castles and Aurelio Capaldi have revealed that City’s attempts to sign the 6ft 4 colossus are taking a positive turn.
How do you rate Koulibaly as a potential Man City signing?
Excellent, ticks every box, snap him up
Good, but a steep price-wise
Awful, too expensive for an out-of-form 29-year-old
The latter Italian claims that the Serie A side are willing to part ways with Koulibaly for around €70 million (£63.2 million) – good news considering previous reports indicated chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis was unwilling to let him go for less than £90 million.
Koulibaly’s seeming price drop could be a result of the global pandemic, with clubs around the continent forced to sell for below their original asking price.
What City need…
Despite being 29-years-old, an age bracket that has prompted some to debate the merits of a transfer record-breaking swoop, Koulibaly appears to tick all the boxes of a world class right-sided centre-back who can bolster Guardiola’s options.
The Senegalese international, according to WhoScored, completes 91% of his passes out from the back on average and wins 2 aerial duels per 90.
As well as this, Koulibaly has managed 4.4 clearances over his Champions League encounters – supporting the theory he would inject some much-needed defensive solidarity into City’s back line.
Attracting worthy praise…
Speaking on Instagram Live, as transcribed by TUTTOmercatoWEB, ex-Premier League goalkeeper Pepe Reina described the €125,000-per-week stalwart as ‘extraordinary’ when naming the defenders he most liked playing alongside.
“In a moment, Koulibaly was something extraordinary,” explained the Spaniard.
“Sergio Ramos in the national team. At Liverpool Agger-Carragher. Difficult to choose, there have been many strong ones. In recent years, the Koulibaly-Albiol duo were phenomenal if they were in place”.
Would City be making the right choice?
According to Castles on the TWP, City were also contemplating moves for Benfica defender Ruben Dias and Atletico Madrid star Jose Gimenez – but the latter would have only been possible if we paid the La Liga outfit’s €120 million (£108.2 million).
Bearing that in mind, Koulibaly’s price tag could look better by comparison – and City supporters could have cause for excitement given this latest positive update.