Maurizio Sarri to bring Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea?

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Jun 26, 2018. 09:00

Incoming Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri reportedly hopes to bring Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly with him from Napoli.

According to Goal, Sarri is eyeing up an £88million move for the 27-year-old as he aims to bolster the Blues’ defence ahead of the 2018/19 season.

Sarri is set to succeed Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, after Chelsea reached a £5m agreement with Italian giants Napoli, who have since appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their new boss.

Sarri has identified Koulibaly as a key transfer target, having spent three seasons together at the Stadio San Paolo.

Koulibaly has a contract with the Partenopei until 2021, but has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League.

Chelsea failed to lure him to England in 2016, while Arsenal are reportedly vying to bring the Senegal star to the Emirates.

Koulibaly is currently in Russia representing Senegal at the 2018 World Cup. After collecting four points from their first two matches, the West African nation is on the verge of qualifying for the last 16.

Their fate will be decided when they play their last Group H match against Colombia on Thursday.