NAPOLI WANT TO KEEP KOULIBALY
Italian club side Napoli are reported to be interested in keeping their defender Kalidou Koulibaly who is attracting serious buzz in the transfer market.
English Premier League clubs especially Arsenal and Chelsea are desperate for the services of the player. On the other hand, Napoli have told the clubs to stay away that the 24-year old is not for sale.
Kalidou Koulibaly was impressive last season for Napoli and is attracting a buzz in the transfer market of up to £23m. However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has told interested clubs that Koulibaly is not for sale. The Senegal international still had up to three years on his current contract, so there really is no need to sell. The bookmakers certainly do think he'll go, with StanJames offering odds of just 1/5 that he will be somewhere else come September the 1st and the close of the Transfer Window.
According to Italian source, Gianluca Di Marzio, the player’s agent is apparently trying to negotiate a new contract with the Partenopei as Koulibaly is on relatively very low wages. There are speculations that the player could move elsewhere. Chelsea’s new manager Anthonio Conte is very keen on the player and is set to place a bid of £30m aside bonus to lure the player to England. The player has high demands and with Chelsea’s offer, Koulibaly could be a blue next season.
On the other hand, there are reports that Spanish club Atletico Madrid sidelined Napoli to sign Sime Vrsaljko. However, Sassuolo director Giovanni Carnevali denied such reports.
He said “We have never spoken directly to Atletico Madrid for Sime Vrsaljko, but are negotiating with Napoli. We’ll see what happens, but in any case we are not forced to sell anyone, especially not Vrsaljko. If he does leave, it’ll be only at the right conditions for him and for Sassuolo. If not, he will remain with us.”
Napoli are also believed to have offered €12m plus €3m bonuses and the loan of Duvan Zapata, who is currently on loan at Udinese. The club has been active in the transfer market as they hope to retain their spot in the league and do well in the continental campaigns.