In a recent interview with Goodison News, former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell urged Everton to recruit Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Campbell said,
“Now that would be a brilliant signing.
“He’s (Koulibaly) got the athleticism, he’s good on the ball, he’s tough and he’s got a great mentality.
“He’s a world-class defender and if Everton get him in, you know they’re going to be a very serious side in the years to come. He’s unreal.”
Koulibaly’s Solid Season With Napoli So Far
The Senegalese centre-back is having another impressive season in Italy as he has been responsible for producing some commanding performances at the centre of the Napoli backline. Koulibaly has featured in 31 matches for the Naples outfit this term, scoring one goal in the process across all competitions.
The ex-Metz defensive ace has been consistent with his defensive contributions this season based on his average of 1.5 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 clearances and 0.7 dribbles per game in Serie A and the UEFA Europa League. He has also taken care of the ball when distributing possession out from the back after making 89.4% of his attempted passes in both league and European football (stats via whoscored).
The 29-year-old is under contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium until the summer of 2023, so the Toffees will have to launch a big-money move to stand a chance of landing the Senegal international in the summer.
What Will The Senegalese Powerhouse Bring To Goodison Park?
Koulibaly can use his powerful 1.87m frame to dominate the opposition in the air and make some crucial clearances for his team. He excels at reading the danger quickly and can time his tackles well to earn the ball back on the defensive end of the pitch.
The 43-time Senegal international is a composed presence on the ball and keeps things tidy when passing his way out from defence. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and could help the Toffees end their long wait for a major trophy in the coming seasons.
Carlo Ancelotti knows Koulibaly well from their time together at Naples, so the Italian tactician will be the perfect man to get the best out of the player over the next few years. At 29, the Senegalese sensation still has a few years left in him to perform at his best, so he would be an incredible signing for the Merseyside club if they can agree on a deal to bring him to Goodison Park in this off-season.
Koulibaly will undoubtedly be an upgrade over any of Everton’s current defensive options which makes him an exciting target for Ancelotti to consider this summer. Plus, he has what it takes to form a dominant centre-back partnership with either Michael Keane or Yerry Mina at the blue half of Merseyside in the years to come.
