Chelsea
Chelsea Submit £43m Bid As Conte Closes-In On Third Summer Signing
Chelsea have submitted a mammoth £43m bid for an international defender as Antonio Conte closes in on making his third signing of the summer.
The summer transfer window is in full swing so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea table a huge bid for Kalidou Koulibaly….
Chelsea have submitted an improved £43m bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly as Antonio Conte closes-in on making his third signing of the summer, according to reports in Italy via the Daily Star.
Conte is desperately trying to bring in another centre-back before the transfer window closes at the end of the month having started the new season with just four senior defenders to choose from.
Koulibaly has emerged as the Italian tactician’s key target in recent weeks with the Express reporting earlier this month that Chelsea were hoping to seal a deal for the Senegal international after tabling a £38m offer.
Napoli rejected their opening bid and seem determined to keep hold of the 25-year-old after seeing Gonzalo Higuain leave for Juventus and the Italian giants are understood to be trying to persuade Koulibaly to sign a new contract extension.
However, it looks like Chelsea aren’t giving up without a fight as the Daily Star are citing reports coming from Italian outlet Il Messaggero that claim the Blues have now tested Napoli’s resolve with an improved £43m offer.
The Serie A club are yet to respond to Chelsea’s latest bid but it could prove too tempting to turn down considering they paid Genk just £6.5m for Koulibaly’s signature two years ago, so they’d turn a huge profit if they decide to cash-in.
Koulibaly developed in to one of the best centre-backs in Italian football last season so he’d be an excellent signing if Chelsea do manage to get a deal agreed over the next two weeks.
The 6ft 6ins defender is powerful and quick on his feet, so he should have no problem adjusting to life in the Premier League and I think he could be the ideal long-term replacement for John Terry at Stamford Bridge.
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If the Senegal star ends up moving to Stamford Bridge, he’ll become Conte’s third signing since taking over at Chelsea following the arrivals of striker Michy Batshuayi and midfielder N’Golo Kante earlier this summer.
