In a recent print edition, Naples news outlet Corriere del Mezzogiorno has claimed that Kalidou Koulibaly is prepared to join Manchester City this summer. It is believed that the Senegalese skipper has his ‘suitcases ready’ and could make a switch to the Etihad Stadium as soon as he is given the green light to do so during this summer transfer period (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Koulibaly’s Solid Form Under Gennaro Gattuso’s Tutelage
It was another incredible season for the ex-Metz centre-back even though he missed a lot of games because of injury. Koulibaly managed to appear in 34 matches for the Italian giants in the last term, finishing the campaign with nine yellow cards and one red card to his name on all fronts.
Despite his poor disciplinary and injury record, the 33-capped Senegalese international showed his resilience by averaging 2.0 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.4 clearances and 4.6 long balls per game in the Serie A. He even distributed the ball well out from the back after making 91.4% of his attempted passes in the Italian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Koulibaly has excelled as a dominant defender at the San Paolo Stadium but could benefit from switching clubs this summer in search of some trophies in the coming years. The Serie A star could prove to be a brilliant addition to Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s squad as long as he can make a smooth transition to Premier League football.
What Will The Senegalese Defensive Ace Bring To The Etihad Stadium?
Koulibaly can use his strength to dominate his penalty area and tends to command his backline well when under pressure from the opposition. He is a powerhouse in defence and has justified his worth as a reliable presence when passing the ball to his teammates going forward. The Napoli sensation is one of the best tacklers in the game and can earn possession back quite a few times for his side. He is often quick to scan the danger and is not afraid to cover a lot of ground to make some important clearances at the back.
Why Man City Need To Snap Up Koulibaly This Summer
Recruiting a centre-half of Koulibaly’s calibre will no doubt put Guardiola’s side in pole position to reclaim their Premier League crown and challenge for the UEFA Champions League in the upcoming campaign. He could potentially form a fruitful defensive partnership with Aymeric Laporte at the north-west of England which might help Man City maintain a stranglehold in both domestic and European competitions.
More importantly, Koulibaly will significantly improve the quality of Guardiola’s first-team but could struggle to cope with the high intensity of English football. Either way, the Mancunian giants need to make sure that they get the deal over the line for the Senegalese centre-back before the transfer window comes to a halt next month.
