How much will Chelsea pay for Kalidou Koulibaly?
Cameron Smith
- 12 Jul 2022 15:35 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal for Napoli and Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Blues are in search for defensive reinforcements following the free transfer exits of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier this summer, to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Related articles
As a result, Todd Boehly has set about scouring Europe for potential targets, with Koulibaly, Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde among those on Chelsea's radar.
However, Chelsea have now taken strides to close a deal with Napoli for Koulibaly, with a deal now likely to happen.
It was previously reported that Chelsea were willing to match Napoli's asking price for the defender, and The Athletic's David Ornstein has confirmed that the Blues are in talks about a possible move for the player.
Ornstein has revealed that Koulibaly could move to Stamford Bridge on a long-term contract with a proposed fee of €40 million. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing, but a deal is said to be close to completion.
Napoli rejected Manchester United's offer of €105m for Koulibaly back in 2018, according to club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, but with just one year left on his contract, they've not been able to demand close to that fee this window.
It's believed that signing players from Napoli is tricky, but Chelsea are now close to agreeing a deal with Koulibaly. The Senegal international helped his country to victory in the 2021 African Cup of Nations and has featured over 300 times for Napoli since joining in 2014.
Chelsea's centre-back targets
If Koulibaly arrives, which now seems likely, he won't be the only defensive reinforcement signed by the Blues this summer.
Chelsea remain heavily interested in re-signing Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, while Kounde and Presnel Kimpembe are all still under consideration, according to Ornstein.
