Chelsea are finally about to land long-term defensive target Kalidou Koulibaly after many years of trying for the Napoli man.
Koulibaly has been a cornerstone in the Naples defence for eight years now and during that long-term stay in southern Italy, there have been previous summer transfer windows whereby he has nearly left Serie A.
However, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has always stood firm in demanding a huge transfer fee for the Africa Cup of Nations winner. However, with one year left on his contract, it seems as though it is time for his current club to cash in on a player who hasn't looked like signing a new deal for a while now.
READ MORE: Joe Cole proven right on Todd Boehly claim as Chelsea close in on Kalidou Koulibaly transfer
football.london understands that an agreement is close between Chelsea and Napoli in relation to a £34m deal that will see the Senegalese international sign a lucrative long-term contract in west London.
'Done deal'
According to Football Italia, Koulibaly is preparing not to join up with Napoli's pre-season training camp as originally planned due to the fast progress that has been made on Tuesday regarding his move to Chelsea.
The player himself reportedly hopes that his Blues transfer is completed and becomes a 'done deal' by Wednesday.
Personal terms agreed
The defender's move to Chelsea is fast approaching with it being understood that a deal could be fully agreed in the coming hours.
A £34million move is currently in the works and it is understood that owner Aurelio De Laurentiis isn't to stand in the way of their number 26 this time round with his manager and other senior figures in Naples already wishing him well ahead of his imminent move to Stamford Bridge.
The full structure of the deal needs to be agreed still but personal terms seem to not have been an issue at all. Italian transfer guru Alfredo Pedulla of Sport Italia has reported that the 31-year-old has accepted the five year contract proposal worth around £7.6million-£8.4million per year (around £630,000 per month and £180,000 a week).
Barcelona threat
It wouldn't be a transfer window without the financially restricted Barcelona wanting to try and ruin Chelsea's plans yet again.
Xavi has already seemingly managed to steal Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha under the grips of Todd Boehly and despite focus being on Jules Kounde for the Catalan giants, it seems as though they want to try and inflict triple misery on the current World Champions this summer.
This is because Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Barcelona have told the player's agent that he would rather them wait to see if they can pull off an ambitious transfer swoop themselves at the expense of Chelsea.
Unlike the Dembele and Raphinha situations though, it doesn't seem likely that Joan Laporta will be able to intervene at this advanced stage.
Edouard Mendy delivers Kalidou Koulibaly and Ake Chelsea transfer verdict as £79m swoop close
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has admitted that he is 'happy' with the potential Nathan Ake and Kalidou Koulibaly acquisitions which would see the club move on from the Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger setbacks.
"We were happy with Toni and with Christensen but I think we are more than happy with the defenders who will arrive," he told The Times.
The pair's relationship with their country has always been strong and this has been showcased on many occasions in recent times including when the 31-year-old came to the defence of the former Rennes goalkeeper when Gianluca Donnarumma was picked ahead of him as the world's top goalkeeper by FIFA.
Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly drops Chelsea transfer bombshell as £34m deal 'very close'
Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly believes his move to Chelsea is "on the right track" as a £34million deal is 'very close.'
News that now looks to have been confirmed by the player himself, who says that his long-awaited exit from Italy is now approaching.
"I'll confirm that later, but it's on the right track," he said on Italian radio as Journalist Romain Collet-Gaudin reported.
Senior Napoli figure hints at £34m Kalidou Koulibaly Chelsea transfer being a 'done deal'
Will Kalidou Koulibaly become Chelsea's second or third summer signing of this transfer window under Todd Boehly?
Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe is being mentioned as the third player that Tuchel reportedly wants in this new defensive rebuild but whether new manager Christophe Galtier leaves this summer remains to be seen as the Parisians chase down Milan Skriniar themselves.
But in the meantime, all eyes from a Chelsea focus will be on when a potential transfer agreement for Koulibaly can be fully reached and the announcement date to follow. Raheem Sterling is expected to be the first signing confirmed of the Boehly era but whether Koulibaly or Ake are to become the second or third ones remains to be seen.
A senior Napoli figure though has hinted that their 26 could be the second Chelsea summer signing with his telling Instagram post (via Napoli_Report) amid all the Blues noise.
Napoli's Storekeeper Tommy Star has posted what looks to be a goodbye on his Instagram story. It's a picture that show him embracing with the AFCON winner.
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