Chelsea readying £29.5m offer for long-term Napoli defender
9th September 2014 - International Football - Norway v Italy - Italian coach Antonio Conte shouts instructions from the touchline - Photo: Offside / IPP.
Chelsea are reportedly ready to stump up £29.5m in a bid to sign Senegal international defender Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, according to TransferMarketWeb (via the Daily Star).
The Premier League side, who could only finish tenth during their defence of the 2014/15 title last term, have been continually linked with a swoop for the Napoli centre-half ahead of the new 2016/17 campaign.
Italy coach Antonio Conte will start work as Chelsea’s new manager shortly following their exit from EURO 2016 – Photo: Mark Leech
The 25-year-old, who has six international caps for his country, provided two assists in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A outfit last season.
Koulibaly; who is a former France Under-20 international, is understood to be interested in the Blues’ pursuit, with the report suggesting that Chelsea could offer the defender £48,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge in a bid to lure him to the Premier League.
However Napoli are desperate to keep hold of the Senegalese’s services, who have made it clear that they do not want to sell the former Metz and Racing Genk star.