FC Barcelona In Advanced Talks To Sign Napoli Defender Koulibaly

FC Barcelona are in advanced talks to sign star defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, according to reports.

After securing Ronald Araujo to a long term deal until 2026 last week and signing Eric Garcia on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer, the Blaugrana are in the market for another central defender given the advancing years of Gerard Pique, who is also picking up persistent injuries this term.

Due to this, Koulibaly has been made a priority signing by first team coach Xavi Hernandez according to As, who report that Barca are in “advanced talks” to land the Senegal international.

With his client’s current deal in Italy ending in 2023, Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadini has been contacted by Barca and asked not to agree fresh terms with Napoli.

Barca have been monitoring Koulibably, widely-considered one of the best players in his position in Europe, for quite some time, and he is viewed with good eyes in Catalonia for his “forcefulness and for his ability to get the ball under control”.

The 30-year-old’s speed, anticipation skills and aerial prowess are also highly-regarded, and many coaches behind the scenes at Camp Nou see him as the ideal replacement for 35-year-old Pique who has just one more season left on his contract.

A potential Araujo and Koulibaly partnership has many at Barca rubbing their hands together, As say, with Garcia and the incoming Andreas Christensen from Chelsea providing strong alternatives in case of injuries, suspensions, or the imposing back line duo needing a rest.

With Koulibaly’s arrival, however, his fellow French-born professionals Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are sure to be moved on before the 2022/2023 season.

As always, however, complicating any potential purchase is the selling club’s asking price.

Because Koulibaly will soon have just 12 months remaining on his current deal, Napoli cannot request a premium for their man. Yet with Barca in debts hovering around the $1.5bn mark, though, even their $42mn price tag is a tall order and Napoli are not interested in part exchange deals involving any of the Catalans’ squad members.

Even so, as said, talks with Koulibaly himself are described as “quite advanced” with the player offered a four-year contract which will take him past his 34th birthday.