Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly has been strongly linked with moves to Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain for a while now.
The 29-year-old played in their 2020-21 Serie A season-opening win over Parma on Sunday. Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne scored in the second half of a 2-0 win at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Speaking after the game, Napoli coach Gino Gattuso told Sky Sports Italia:
“I had no doubts, he is one of the strongest champions in the world in his role.
“He has always given me great availability and always trains well. I would be sorry to lose him, both for the man and for the player.
“But you know that numbers are important for clubs and at this moment something needs to be done for numbers, but I’d be happy to keep him.”
Kalidou Koulibaly has been widely-expected to leave during this transfer window, particularly as Napoli failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League; something the three aforementioned clubs can offer him this season.
The centre-back joined Napoli from Belgian side Genk in 2014 and has been a regular starter for each of the previous six Serie A campaigns. Kalidou Koulibaly was named in the Serie A Team of the Year for four consecutive seasons between 2015-19.
2019-20 Champions League runners-up Paris Saint-Germain lost Thiago Silva on a free transfer to Chelsea over the summer and are yet to add a replacement yet. Marquinhos, Abdou Diallo and Presnel Kimpembe have all started in the middle of a back four in the French champions’ past two games and head coach Thomas Tuchel may not feel desperate to buy a new player in this position.
Manchester City signed Nathan Ake from relegated Bournemouth over the summer and he was partnered with John Stones for their 3-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers to start the new Premier League season on Monday night. Aymeric Laporte was missing through injury, whilst Eric Garcia, Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi are all on the books at the Etihad Stadium.
Premier League rivals Manchester United have been linked with a move for Kalidou Koulibaly for a couple of years now but have struggled in the transfer market in recent summers, so far only signing Donny van de Beek from Manchester United. With Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire their regular pair in defence, fans would be delighted if they could land the Senegalese international.
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