Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly sends congratulatory message to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
According to sports journalist Nicolo Schira via Twitter (h/t football. london), Chelsea target Kalidou Koulibaly has rejected an offer of a contract extension from Napoli. He also claims that an offer of €40 million could see Koulibaly leave the club this summer.
Thomas Tuchel is in dire need to revamp his defence following the departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. An experienced defender like Koulibaly is available for such a moderate price if the claim is true. This could serve as a major boost to Chelsea, who need to sign defenders ahead of next season.
Koulibaly joined Napoli from KRC Genk in 2014 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Italian league. The Senegal international has made over 317 appearances for the club, winning the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup in the process.
Now after eight long years, his time with the Naples club is looking to come to an end and London could be his next potential destination. The 31-year-old was solid as ever last season as he helped his side secure a fifth-place finish in the league, missing out on Champions League qualification by one point.
Should he join the Blues, he will have the opportunity to compete in the prestigious competition. Despite his age, he still has a lot of quality to offer at the back, and he could be available for a bargain price. He could potentially help Chelsea in replacing Rudiger as he can play a similar role to him.
However, he could only be a short-term fix, considering his age. He would not be an ideal solution for long-term planning. But that does not mean he won’t be a good signing. Considering how good Thiago Silva turned out, despite his age, it should not stop Chelsea from going for the defender.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also said to be linked with Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake. Up front, the Blues are close to agreeing to a deal for Raheem Sterling. It could be an interesting week as a Blues fan.
It remains to be seen what happens. But the Blues need to make signings and need to do it fast as pre-season is about to begin and the next season will also follow in no time. The players need some time to adapt to their new surroundings and Tuchel will be aware of it.
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