Renowned journalist Nicolo Schira has provided an update on Manchester City‘s pursuit of Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly as he claims that the player is getting closer to completing a switch to the Etihad Stadium after agreeing on personal terms with the club. It has also been revealed that Man City have launched a bid of €70m plus add-ons for the Senegalese international, but Napoli are demanding €80m for their prized asset this summer.
Kalidou #Koulibaly is getting closer to #ManCity, which have offered €70M + add-ons to #Napoli (ask €80M to sell him). Talks ongoing to finalize the deal. KK has agreed personal terms for a contract until 2025 (€10M/year). #transfers #MCFC https://t.co/rLXNZo2WaL
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) August 18, 2020
Koulibaly’s Splendid Season At The Stadio San Paolo
On a personal front, the 29-year-old had to endure an injury-hit season at Naples as he missed out on a handful of games due to a muscle problem and later, a thigh injury. However, that didn’t stop him from having another impressive campaign for the Italian giants as he made 34 appearances for them while picking up nine yellow cards in the process across various competitions.
Defensively, Koulibaly has been a top performer at the centre of the Napoli backline after averaging 2.0 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.8 clearances per match in the Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. The ex-Genk centre-half is also a tidy distributor of the ball based as his pass success rate is 91.4% in the Italian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
The 33-capped Senegalese international is currently performing at his peak, so he could make an immediate impact at the north-west of England next season if Pep Guardiola can find a way to land him this summer. He is an exceptional defender who will bolster the Man City defence significantly and could make them the firm favourites to win the Premier League and the Champions League in the years to come.
What Are The Senegalese Captain’s Best Attributes?
Koulibaly is a powerhouse in defence as he can dominate his penalty area by reading the danger quickly and making some crucial clearances for his team. He is brilliant in the air as he can often outmuscle the opposition and win the ball using his strength and power, which makes such a well-respected centre-back in Europe. The Senegalese sensation is an excellent tackler as well that allows him to earn possession back when his teammates need him to step up the most.
Will Signing Koulibaly Be A Dream Move For Guardiola?
A central defender of Koulibaly’s quality will fill a gaping hole in Guardiola’s first-team as he could potentially be a solution to some of Man City’s defensive problems from the previous campaign. The 29-year-old will be a significant upgrade over any of Guardiola’s current options at the Etihad.
Koulibaly is even a capable ball-playing defender and won’t have any issues playing his way out from the back. It seems like the Napoli star will be a dream acquisition for the League Cup winners as he will go a long way in helping them overtake Liverpool at the summit of English football.
