Juventus eye Chelsea flop

Stuart Telford

• 25 Apr 2023 10:27 BST
• 3 min read

Juventus are ready to bring Kalidou Koulibaly back to Italy just a season on from the Senegalese centre-back leaving Napoli for Chelsea.

There was significant excitement among the Chelsea support when the Blues signed Napoli captain Koulibaly for €38 million last summer, the defender widely regarded as one of the best in Italy - of not the world - in his position.

Chelsea had lost Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer to Real Madrid, and Thomas Tuchel had long seen Koulibaly as an ideal player to play on the left of a back three.

READ: Which 'senior Chelsea player' did Boehly single out in rant?

But by the end of the summer transfer window, Tuchel had been replaced by Graham Potter. Koulibaly is now playing under his third Chelsea manager in Frank Lampard, and although he has enjoyed the faith of all three, he has struggled to recreate the form of old.

Juventus are now planning to make another move for Koulibaly, a year on from losing out to Chelsea.

Allegri's demand

"[Koulibaly's] name is back on the Bianconeri's agenda at the direct suggestion of [Max] Allegri," report Gazzetta dello Sport. "Allegri has already got to work on the transfer.

READ: Chelsea offer midfielder to Juventus for Zakaria swap

"He would like another centre-back to work alongside Bremer, who is used to playing on the left. He has therefore asked Juventus to take the opportunity to ask Chelsea is there is a possibility of signing Koulibaly."

The chances of signing Koulibaly would appear to be quite high. Although he has started 20 games in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, it is understood that Todd Boehly has made the entire squad available for transfer.

The American billionaire has spent more than €600 million in the transfer market since succeeding Roman Abramovich as owner last May, but the Blues languish in 11th in the Premier League table.