Chelsea have advanced talks to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli this summer, latest reports have confirmed. The Blues are said to be closing in on agreements on on a fee with the Serie A club after agreeing personal terms with the 31-year-old Senegalese centre-back.
It has been a relatively slow start to the transfer window for Chelsea in terms of getting business done, having lost both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. The need to replace the pair is paramount on the todo list of the club and, as a result, the likes of Jules Kounde, Presnel Kimpembe, Matthjias de Ligt have all been linked to the London side.
Last week reports emerged from the UK media that Nathan Ake was close to returning to his boyhood club from Man City with a move for Raheem Sterling also believed to be in its final stages. At moment, it is looking increasingly likely that a new centreback partnership could be on the horizon with a report claiming that Kalidou Koulibaly is also closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge.
According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Koulibaly has already accepted Chelsea's contract offerThe player is expected to will sign a four-year contract with the Premier League outfit, three years guaranteed and an additional season option. The Blues are also said to be willing to pay $40 million for the Senegal international, and it is now up to Napoli to accept the transfer.
#Koulibaly ha accettato offerta #Chelsea: quadriennale (o triennale con opzione) da 8 milioni a stagione più 1 di bonus. Ora palla al #Napoli. Il #Chelses pronto a pagare circa 40 milioni per il cartellino
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) July 12, 2022
Meanwhile, Koulibaly has seemingly dropped the bombshell of his imminent move to Chelsea on Italian radio on Tuesday. "I'll confirm that later, but it's on the right track," the defender confirmed as reported by Italian journalist Romain Collet-Gaudin.
Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has also had his say on the player's purported move to Chelsea, stating that a would love for the player to continue his career in Naples. "I hope he stays as he's a top player and Kalidou would be our captain this year - but in case Kalidou decides to join another club, we will thank him," he declared. A potential breakdown in talks could see the Senegalese star leaving the club as a free agent next summer with just one year left on his current deal.
