Kalidou Koulibaly has starred in Serie A with Napoli and Premier League side Everton could do with a top class centre-back.
If Napoli do end Juventus’ stranglehold on the Serie A title this season, it will be as much to do with the defensive brilliance of Kalidou Koulibaly as the mesmeric attacking of Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne.
Koulibaly has evolved into one of the world’s best centre-backs during his time in Italy’s top flight, so it should be no surprise to learn that the habitually precarious Arsenal are keen to pay top dollar to bring him to the Emirates.
According to Calciomercato, The Gunners sent scouts to watch Koulibaly during Napoli’s 3-1 home defeat to RB Leipzig in the Europa League on Thursday and it is understood that he is valued at £40 million – something of a snip in today’s market for a world class centre-half.
But, at that price, surely Everton cannot go wrong in making another move.
Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri admitted to talkSPORT that he was keen to sign the Senegal international during the summer of 2016 – only to back away once Napoli revealed their £60 million price-tag.
So if Maurizio Sarri’s side are willing to sell for £20 million less, Everton should not waste such an opportunity.
They cannot really afford to either. The defence has been a problem for Everton all season with 46 goals conceded in 27 league games.
Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams are declining fast, Ramiro Funes-Mori has been injured all year, Michael Keane has flopped badly and, on current form, there is no reason they should look to sign Eliaquim Mangala permanently.
Koulibaly, then, could completely transform their defence. Though whether he’d want to swap Napoli for Everton is another matter.
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