Manchester United are reportedly the front-runners to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Senegalese international is all set to leave the Italian club after 6 years, having joined them 2014 from Belgian side Genk.
As per The Sun, the Red Devils are the favourites to sign Koulibaly, with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain keen to secure other targets.
Napoli have reportedly reduced their asking price to £80 million, which is somewhere close to the money Manchester United spent to sign Harry Maguire last summer.
Koulibaly has three years remaining on his current deal at Napoli, and has made over 230 appearances for the side in all competitions.
Is Kalidou Koulibaly the ideal partner for Maguire?
Kalidou Koulibaly has, over the last few years, become one of the best defenders in Europe. The 28-year-old centre-back has pace, power, aerial ability, good passing ability, and has shown great leadership qualities at the back for Napoli.
His rise in form resulted in interest from numerous clubs across Europe in the last few transfer windows, but the covid19 pandemic has seen some of the sides withdraw their interest due to financial reasons.
Manchester United’s interest in the defender is not a surprise, as they need leaders in their team to help them climb up the table once again.
Koulibaly could be a great fit at the club, playing alongside Maguire. The Englishman has settled in well at the back for United, and has become a key player for the side in a short span of time.
Koulibaly’s arrival could strengthen the backline even further, which has transformed into a dependable unit following the arrivals of Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Maguire is a decent passer, but lacks the pace or strength without the ball that Koulibaly possesses. The two could work well together and would be towering presences at the back for Manchester United.
Koulibaly’s arrival could further help United in having a better passing game as the Napoli defender is good at spraying the ball from the back.
United will have to sell a few of the other defenders in their team if they want to sign Koulibaly, though.
They will need the funds to sign him – as well as other targets like Jadon Sancho or Jack Grealish – as well as lighten the wage bill.
The likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Marcos Rojo should be sold in the summer to make way for Koulibaly, as they don’t seem to have a long-term future with the Red Devils.
