Why Chelsea can't afford to cut ties with Koulibaly

Karan Tejwani

• 24 Dec 2022 03:40 CST
• 3 min read

Kalidou Koulibaly will be allowed to leave Chelsea in the summer and return to Serie A according to reports from Italy, but it’s something the Blues can’t afford to sanction.

Koulibaly only joined Chelsea this past summer from Napoli after a successful few years with the Patronepei, and has had a mixed start to life at Stamford Bridge.

While Koulibaly hasn’t been impose himself on the league immediately or replicate the same form he showed at Napoli, letting go of him would be a great error.

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The Senegalese defender has had good patches of form at Chelsea, and perhaps that deserves some time to materialize into something greater.

Chelsea shouldn't sell Koulibaly

Koulibaly showed some glimpses of his good form for Chelsea before the World Cup and then followed that up with performances at the tournament itself, despite his side crashing out in the last 16 against England.

There are also problems within the Chelsea squad that need to be addressed before Koulibaly’s departure from the club can even be considered.

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For starters, Wesley Fofana, their big-money defensive signing from Chelsea, hasn’t been free of injury and his consistent stay in the squad is not a guarantee, which means they will need Koulibaly.

Additionally, Thiago Silva is out of contract in the summer and can’t play two games a week for the rest of the campaign, with a contract extension uncertain, making the Senegalese defender’s stay essential.

Indeed, the possible arrival of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig is an encouraging factor, but until that deal is secured, the Blues will have to keep hold of Koulibaly.

Chelsea face plenty of competition for Gvaridiol’s signature, with clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City all interested in the Croatian World Cup hero.

For his quality, reputation and requirements in the Chelsea squad, the Blues can’t let Koulibaly go any time in the near future – any decision to allow it would be a great error.