The player City have been crying out for since Kompany’s departure
Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, according to France Football.
City have been in desperate need of a right sided central defender ever since Vincent Kompany began to decline and eventually left the club. Previous attempts at replacing him with John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have proved unsuccessful, with the pair too prone to errors leading to goals.
Koulibaly has established himself as one of the most complete defenders in the game during his time at Napoli. A superb ball player and a towering presence in the air who possesses the acceleration to play in a high line, he is the ideal candidate to play alongside Aymeric Laporte for City.
Now the two clubs must agree a fee for the 29-year-old, with various reports stating differing fees. It will likely be somewhere in the region of €70 million. A heavy price to pay in these times but given his importance to Napoli and the wealth at City’s disposal, haggling becomes a rather futile process.
Napoli are expected to sign Feyenoord’s Marcos Senesi as his replacement.
Manchester United have also expressed interest in the Senegalese international but are now turning their attention towards RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upemecano, according to the Times. The 21-year-old Frenchman excelled in Leipzig’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid and has piqued the interest of the footballing elite.
But Leipzig remain determined to keep him for now – he has three years remaining on his contract with the €42 million release clause not kicking in until next summer. United will have to pay through the nose for him.
