Chelsea have stepped closer to completing the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly, with Thomas Tuchel eager to reinforce his defensive options. The 31-year-old has been heavily linked with an exit from Napoli this summer amid an increasingly complicated contract saga, and the west Londoners have the defender in their sights.
According to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Koulibaly’s agent, Fali Ramadani, met with Chelsea officials yesterday regarding a potential move to Stamford Bridge. It's said that the Senegal international is seen as an alternative to Matthijs de Ligt, with the Juventus defender edging closer to penning a deal at Bayern Munich.
football.london understand that the Blues have held talks with the Italian giants regarding the 22-year-old's future but Chelsea are yet to table a bid. Bayern have since entered the frame to sign the young defender and, according to SPORT1, De Ligt has verbally agreed to join the Bundesliga champions.
READ MORE: Chelsea receive £60m Raphinha transfer boost as Todd Boehly sets new Barcelona deadline
Koulibaly’s agent first got in contact with Chelsea in May to offer the club his client's services, according to Area Napoli, as quoted by Sport Witness. The west Londoners are said to have been one of many leading clubs in Europe who were advertised the centre-back's availability this summer, with his contract at Napoli set to expire at the end of next season.
Amid growing speculation that Koulibaly could leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti made his feelings clear regarding a potential exit. He insisted that he would chain himself to the gates if his star defender was sold.
Speaking in a press conference following the final game of the 2021/22 Serie A campaign, Spalletti told Football Italia: "Koulibaly in my view is not for sale, just like last season when I threatened to chain myself to the gates if he was sold. I’m doing it again!
"This is a player always open to giving a helping hand, knows where to intervene and how to raise the level, he does what is needed. We want to have another important season, so he cannot be sold.
"People say you can get a younger player, but you can’t buy a leader, who developed here over so many years, who lives and breathes the city and gives that passion back on the pitch. Kalidou is not the same as the others for many reasons, so he needs particular focus. These are all things we’ll discuss over the next few days."
Koulibaly featured 27 times for Napoli in the Serie A this season, steering Gli Azzurri towards a title charge. His imperious displays saw his side boast the second-best defensive record in the league behind only AC Milan, who reigned superior.
The defender, who is valued at around £13million by CIES Football Observatory, has been one of Europe's most coveted defenders in recent years, but an exit has never come to fruition. Koulibaly helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations in January and is a defender of great pedigree for what could be a shrewd coup compared to that of De Ligt.
READ NEXT:
Richarlison to Spurs hands Todd Boehly wake-up call amid Chelsea and Raphinha transfer impasse
Thomas Tuchel may already have the answer to Chelsea's £50m Manchester City transfer problem
Barcelona secure £177.6m windfall to concern Chelsea in Raphinha transfer battle
Sell Timo Werner, keep Levi Colwill - How Chelsea's squad should look after the transfer window
Pep Guardiola has already told Thomas Tuchel what Nathan Ake offers amid Chelsea transfer move
