Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea: Blues fear Napoli defender will cost over £50million

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Tom Collomosse12 July 2016

Chelsea fear they will have to pay in excess of £50million to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli – and smash the British transfer record for a defender.

Even though Koulibaly’s main suitors, Chelsea and Everton, hope Napoli will lower their valuation for the centre-back, Napoli’s official line is that they will not accept anything less than €60m.

According to today’s exchange rate, that translates as £51.6m – considerably more than the £42m Manchester City are reported to have paid Porto to sign Eliaquim Mangala in 2014.

Koulibaly, 25, is happy to play for Napoli but Standard Sport understands he is currently involved in a contractual stand-off with the Serie A club, who will play in the Champions League in the forthcoming season.

Koulibaly earns a relatively modest £26,000 a week at Napoli and, with Chelsea and Everton circling, he has asked for the same contract as captain and top earner Marek Hamsik, who collects about £98,000 a week.

Standard Sport understands Napoli are willing only to double Koulibaly’s wages to £52,000 a week.

Koulibaly is thought to feel that this figure does not represent his true value and reports from Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Trentino, northern Italy suggest his frustration is growing.

The centre-back’s excellent performances last season attracted interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea offering £34million to sign him and Everton thought to be prepared to go as high as £42million.

Koulibaly in action for Napoli. 
Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images

Koulibaly, a French-born Senegal international, is believed to prefer a move to Stamford Bridge, where new coach Antonio Conte has made him a top target.

But unless Chelsea are prepared to increase their bid substantially, the situation may be taken out of his hands.

Sources in Italy have indicated that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has scheduled a meeting with Everton officials for tomorrow/Wednesday.

The £51.6m requested by Napoli would be similar to the £50m Chelsea received from Paris St Germain for David Luiz two years ago. Due to fluctuating exchange rates, however, it is difficult to say which fee is higher in real terms.

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