The Saudi group interested in buying Newcastle United have told Napoli that they are ready to pay up to £90 million to make Kalidou Koulibaly the first marquee signing of a bold new era on Tyneside, according to FootMercato.
Who would have thought that, three months after the Magpies were first linked with the Serie A powerhouse, Mike Ashley would still be pulling the strings at St James’ Park?
Try as he might, Saudi billionaire Mohammed Bin Salman continues to run into hurdles with his proposed takeover of one of European football’s biggest underachievers apparently no closer to being completed.
The endless supply of red tape has not, however, stopped the Middle Eastern investors from putting the plans in place for what would be one of the most remarkable transfers in recent British football history.
Apart from a certain giant Dutchman, Koulibaly is perhaps the finest defender on the planet today.
And, with Napoli demanding a staggering £90 million, he could also replace Harry Maguire as the most expensive.
But according to claims made from FootMercato, who first reported Newcastle’s interest in the Senegal powerhouse back in April, the PCP Capital Partners Group are now negotiating on their behalf, telling Napoli president Aurelio di Laurentiis that they have not been put off by an eye-watering price-tag.
Of course, there is a long way to go with Ashley still very much sitting atop his ivory tower.
But progress, exciting progress at that, is being made behind the scenes.
Le10 Sport claimed in May that Newcastle would make Koulibaly their highest-paid player with a £200,000-a-week contract.
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