Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has described reported Everton target Kalidou Koulibaly as one of the two best centre-halves in world football, while speaking to Goal.
We can only guess who the other one is. Virgil van Dijk, perhaps?
Either way, with Everton planning to raid Napoli once again, 12 months after luring Allan to Goodison Park, there is a real chance that two genuinely world-class central defenders will be plying their trade on Merseyside in 2021/22.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Carlo Ancelotti would love to be reunited with Senegal international Koulibaly on the blue half of the city.
Napoli, for what it’s worth, would be willing to consider offers in the region of £45 million – far less than the £90 million owner Aurelio de Laurentiis was so publicly demanding this time last year.
It seems unlikely that Inter Milan will be battling Everton for Koulibaly’s signature – the Serie A leaders are mired in a worrying financial predicament right now – but that has not stopped Conte from expressing his admiration for a defender he tried and failed to sign during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge.
“For me, Koulibaly is among the two strongest defenders in the world. He is really very, very strong. I wanted to take him at Chelsea,” said the former Blues boss.
“And he has grown even more (since then).”
When asked about the links earlier this month, Ancelotti was at pains to point out that Everton have more than enough talented centre-halves at their disposal already.
But, according to TMW, Yerry Mina could be sold to raise funds for – and make space for – Koulibaly at Goodison.
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