Chelsea
Chelsea Told To Up Bid After Tabling £19.2m Defender Offer
Chelsea have been told they’ll need to pay £30m to sign Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly after seeing their opening £19.2m offer rejected by Napoli
The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea make their move for Kalidou Koulibaly….
Chelsea have been told they’ll need to pay £30m to sign Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly this summer after seeing their opening £19.2m offer rejected by Napoli, according to the Mirror.
Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte isn’t due to officially take over the reigns at Stamford Bridge until he’s fulfilled his duties with the Italian national team at Euro 2016 but it looks like he’s already outlined his transfer plans to his new employers.
A new central defender to act as a long-term replacement for 35-year-old skipper John Terry is likely to be on the agenda and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly has emerged as a potential target in recent weeks.
It looks like Chelsea have now formalised their interest as the Mirror are reporting today that the Blues have submitted an opening offer worth £19.2m for the Senegalese international.
However, the West Londoners are going to have to dig a little deeper as the newspaper says that Napoli have already rejected that bid and made it clear they want a fee closer to £30m in order to cash-in on Koulibaly this summer.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be prepared to up their offer to match Napoli’s reported asking price but Koulibaly angered the Serie A outfit after recently admitting to the press that he would be ready to hold talks with Conte over a move to England.
“I have not talked to [Antonio Conte] but that may be soon.” Koulibaly is quoted as saying by the Mirror
“The game in England could be suitable for me but I like Italy. I do not press for a transfer but I hope to sign a renewal with Napoli or we proceed to other solutions.”
Koulibaly joined Napoli from Racing Genk in 2014 and has developed in to one of the best centre-backs in Italy over the past two years with his rock solid performances at the back helping his club finish second behind Juventus last season.
Standing at 6ft 5ins, the defender would certainly add an imposing presence to the Chelsea back line and could form a back three alongside Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma in Conte’s new-look system if he moves to Stamford Bridge this summer.
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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but it looks like Chelsea will need to up their initial offer if they’re to stand any chance of persuading Napoli to sell Koulibaly but I think he’d prove to be a big hit if he does end up joining the Blues.
