Manchester City have reportedly agreed personal terms with Napoli to bring defender Kalidou Koulibaly to the Etihad Stadium.
What’s the latest?
The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to England for sometime after putting in some eye-catching performances in the Champions League and Serie A in recent years.
Manager Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his defence this summer and add to the likes of Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, who arrived at the club earlier in the window for £41m.
One era looks to be coming to an end with David Silva leaving on top of Vicent Kompany last summer. Now, the Spanish tactician will have to put the foundations in place for the next generation of players to come in an emulate what has gone before them. Koulibaly is one of the men that is being reportedly targeted to do the job.
Would you like to see Kalidou Koulibaly at the Etihad?
Yes, please make the deal happen
No, too old and expensive
Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini claimed that the Senegal international will be the next player to leave Naples, following the sale of Allan. He added that negotiations between the two clubs are advanced and an agreement regarding his salary has been met. They now intend to raise their offer for the player to €70m (£63.2m) plus bonuses.
This was followed up by Fabrizio Romano and Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, claiming that the two clubs are in discussion and that it looks likely that Kouliably will leave Italy this summer.
World-class signing
Of course, Manchester City are known for splashing the cash in the transfer market, which seems to upset rival fans. But if the club can get this deal over the line, it could be a huge turning point.
The Citizens have lacked defensive protection, it’s fair to say, since Kompany left last summer and Guardiola made a mistake by not replacing him. But Koulibaly is more than capable of filling the great Belgian’s shoes.
Football legend Diego Maradona loves Koulibaly. The former Argentinian forward gushed over him on Instagram (cited by Goal) after a crucial win against Juventus during the 2017/18 campaign in which he scored a crucial goal.
City signing the £190,000-a-week (per WageIndicator.co.uk) talisman would send a clear message to the rest of the league. A world-class asset at the back alongside Aymeric Laporte would significantly boost their chances of recapturing the Premier League title next season.