Italian journalist Alvino believes Everton have a shot at landing Kouliably
Italian journalist Carlo Alvino has refused to rule out an Everton switch for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Toffees were reported to be interested in the Senegal international by talkSPORT in March, with Carlo Ancelotti said to be keen on a reunion with the centre-back.
Everton’s Italian boss previously managed Koulibaly during his time at Napoli and since Ancelotti joined the Blues the defender has been repeatedly linked with a move to Merseyside.
Talking about Koulibaly’s future on Italian TV recently (via 100×100 Napoli), journalist Aldredo Pedulla dismissed Everton’s chances of signing the defender this summer.
Pedulla said: “Koulibaly? With all due respect to Everton but I don’t think he goes there. I think he thinks he is 31 and can do another three years in a more prestigious team than Everton. If you keep Koulibaly next summer, you keep him all your life.”
However Alvino wasn’t so dismissive of Everton’s prospects, suggesting that their is every chance that he could end up moving to Goodison Park.
Speaking to Area Napoli, Alvino said: “Where will Kalidou Koulibaly go? The Premier League option is taking shape, and I do not exclude that he may find Carlo Ancelotti again.
“The Senegalese and Fabian Ruiz could be the players sacrificed in the next transfer market session. De Laurentiis would get a large sum.”
Wrong move for club
Ancelotti has played it fairly coy recently whenever talk of a centre-back signing is brought up, but trusted source Fabrizio Romano has claimed that strengthening in that position in on the agenda when the transfer window opens.
Described as “extraordinary” by Pepe Reina, Koulibaly would undeniably improve the strength in depth that Everton would have in that position, however it doesn’t seem to us like a transfer that would make much logistical sense beyond the obvious addition of quality.
Marcel Brands has certain requirements for Everton’s future signings, being of the right age being one of them, and Kouliably falls outside of that bracket. At almost 30-years old he wouldn’t possess much of a sell-on value should he remain on Merseyside for the duration of whatever his contract might be.
At the same he would cost a lot of money, as Alvino himself points out. Both in terms of the transfer fee and the player’s wages, Everton won’t escape the financial strain, which partnered with his age doesn’t make the deal seem that appealing.
Leicester spend £36million on Wesley Fofana last summer and the 20-year old has been one of the signings of the season. That is the type of deal the Blues should be pursuing, not one to sign yet another ageing star.
In other Everton news, Toffees ace issues damning statement following Everton’s loss v Sheffield United.
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