ChelseaThe transfer of Kalidou Koulibaly could be finalized very quickly, according to reports, after the Napoli defender agreed personal terms on a massive contract.
Rumors surfaced on Tuesday that the Blues… almost agreed to a £33.8 million swooop for the 31-year-old, although further talks were needed to finalize the fee and structure of the deal.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport Italytalks are progressing so quickly that an agreement could be finalized and signed by the end of Wednesday.
Napoli are ready to shake hands on a deal worth €38m (£32.1m) – to be paid in two installments – alongside a further €2m (£1.7m) in bonuses.
Talks between Chelsea and Koulibaly – who has just one year left on the Italian club’s contract – have also progressed rapidly, with the defender also verbally agreeing personal terms.
The Senegal international will earn £160,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, in addition to various performance-related bonuses.
Initial reports are that Koulibaly would only be given a three-year contract with the option of a fourth, but Di Marzio claims the centre-back will sign a five-year contract, although the fifth year may only be an option.
That would dramatically change the approach to the Roman Abramovich era, where players over 30 were only given short-term contracts, and underscores the extent to which co-owner Todd Boehly supports Thomas Tuchel.
The deal has progressed so far that Koulibaly may not return to Napoli’s pre-season camp in Val di Sole after being allowed to meet his agent in Milan to finalize the deal.
He has already confirmed that the talks are going in the right direction, with journalist Romain Collet Gaudin Quoting Koulibaly who said ‘I will confirm that’ [the transfer] later, but it’s on the right track.’
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has also spoken out about Koulibaly’s possible departure, saying during a fan Q&A on Instagram: “I’d rather have Koulibaly with us all the time, especially as he would be captain this season.
“If he chooses to leave, we will always thank him for all the help he has given us. If he wants to choose something else, we wish him all the best, because he deserves it.’
Chelsea are hoping to finalize a deal for Koulibaly by the end of the week and will then focus on signing two more central defenderswith Tuchel eager to bring in Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe.
LAKE : Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel wants two more central defenders after Kalidou Koulibaly
LAKE : Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry rules out Chelsea transfer over Arsenal link
For more stories like this, check our sports page†
Follow Metro Sport for the latest on
facebook† Twitter and Instagram†
