Chelsea target Napoli defender, ready to pay €9.5 million

With Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen out of the Blues squad this summer, and more defenders likely to leave, Chelsea are in the race to bring in a new replacement.

And of the player on Chelsea’s list is Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

The Blues are ready to offer Koulibaly an annual salary of €9.5 million, according to La Repubblica via Caught Offside.

Koulibaly is in the final year of his contract with Napoli and the reports reveal the Senegalese international is not planning to extend his stay at Napoli, while the Serie A giants on the other hand are not willing to lose him for free and as such are willing to cash in on him this year.

Chelsea want to complete a deal for Koulibaly as they look to address the void left at the back by Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, who left to join Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The Blues will have to battle Juventus, who are also monitoring Koulibaly with interest but the Old Lady’s salary offer is €3 million less than the Blues.’