Chelsea made no secret of their admiration for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly but, now, it looks like they’ll never get their man.
Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has signed a new five-year-contract at Napoli, according to the Evening Standard, meaning Chelsea will have to trigger his £60 million release clause if they are to reignite their interest next summer.
New coach Antonio Conte had made reinforcing a defence that conceded 53 times last season his top priority after arriving at Stamford Bridge this summer, but would have been left frustrated by the club’s inability to replenish stock edging past it’s best before date.
Ambitious bids for Juventus’s Leonardo Bonucci and AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli (below), the present and future of the Italian backline, were emphatically rebuked, according to the Independent.
The deposed Premier League champions also failed with a bid of around £30 million for Roma’s Kostas Manolas, according to Football Italia, leaving Conte with a declining Gary Cahil, an ageing John Terry and an injured Kurt Zouma as his primary defensive options.
Until Chelsea signed David Luiz, that is. But, if he is the answer, then Conte’s question must surely have been lost in translation.
However, a single constant in a window of fluctuating targets remained: Napoli centre-back Koulibaly. According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea had considered meeting hard-balling president Aurelio DeLaurentiis’ demands, with the defender audibly keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Such a move never materialised, however. And now, thanks to a new, bumper contract, it might never materialise. Chelsea’s refusal to raise their ‘take it or leave it’ final offer of £40 million denied Conte (below) his prime defensive target, as reported by the Telegraph. And this may well have been the blues’ best chance of securing his signature.
Despite a shaky start to the current campaign, Koulibay’s rapid rate of improvement suggests that Chelsea may well be priced out of a market increasingly monopolised by the cash-splashing Manchester duo. Roman Abramovic is no longer the don of the transfer business, after all.
Under the disciplined guidance of Napoli coach Mauricio Sarri, the 25-year-old evolved from a nervy, error-prone import from the Belgian top flight to one of the most complete defenders in the European game. £40 million will surely not be enough next summer either, especially with Koulibaly’s reputation mirroring the rise of the market.
It looks like Conte will be praying Gary Cahil finds form fairly soon.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
