Manchester United news: Kalidou Koulibaly transfer set to stall with Napoli determined to play hardball
Owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to enter the window with the stance that the Senegalese centre-back is not for sale
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Your support makes all the difference.Napoli are determined to play hardball over any potential transfer for Kalidou Koulibaly amid interest from Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Independent understands that Napoli feel no need to inject finances into the club, and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is fixed on entering the window with the stance that the Senegalese centre-back is not for sale.
The defender, who has established himself amongst Europe's elite, has been subject to widespread interest but Napoli hold all the power in negotiations after the player signed a new five-year contract at the club last year, and would only be tempted by a fee that surpasses the £75m world record for a defender paid by Liverpool for Virgil van Dijk.
That asking price is set to deter any potential deal with Manchester United, who are in the market for a centre-back and have tracked Koulibaly since his early days at Genk, but are instead preparing to spend £100m to secure their No 1 target Jadon Sancho as they prioritise youthful additions to the squad.
Barcelona, who have enquired about Koulibaly in the past, are now intent on signing 19-year-old Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt who is seen as the world’s best young defender and is also being prioritised by Real Madrid, as Sergio Ramos declines with age and Raphael Varane wrangles over a new contract.
Koulibaly left his long-term agent late last year, with the player's brother taking lead of his representation in a showing of clear intention to pursue a move.
However, the player is still very much happy at Napoli and is attached to the city meaning he would not want to leave under acrimonious circumstances, lessening his chances of following Gonzalo Higuain and joining Serie A rivals Juventus.
Film magnate De Laurentiis is an extremely tough negotiator and claims to have already rejected a €105m approach for the player in the past, while manager Carlo Ancelotti has made clear his desperation to keep Koulibaly, as the door appears to ever so slightly close on a big-money move.
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