Fabrizio Romano delivers £38.5m update on Kalidou Koulibaly, expects major August development
Napoli are expected to lower their valuation of Everton target Kalidou Koulibaly in August, claims Fabrizio Romano.
The Toffees are keen on signing a defender this summer, and have identified the Senegal international as one of their prime transfer targets.
It’s also understood that the 30-year-old is keen on trying something new and is open to joining Everton this summer, according to The Telegraph.
Discussing the Koulibaly situation on his Twitch channel Here We Go, the Sky Sports and Guardian journalist said, “Same situation as yesterday [21/07/21], no bids from Everton for Koulibaly.
“Last summer they [Napoli] asked for €80million (£68.5million), now they are asking around €45million (£38.5million) but there is nothing advanced.
“I think Everton will go for something cheaper or maybe they will try for Koulibaly in August, when the prices are different.”
Playing the waiting game?
It’s well documented that Koulibaly has been on our radar for the last two summers and at the current price, there’s no chance we could bring him to Goodison Park this summer.
Napoli want him to stay, but will be open to letting him go if the right offer is on the table for the 30-year-old.
What works in our favour is that Koulibaly himself wants to move. Every summer he’s been linked with an exit and nothing eventually materialises for him.
Having spent seven years there, he knows that this summer is possibly his last one to demand high wages and for Napoli to receive a huge transfer fee from his sale.
That’s possibly why Romano thinks his price will drop in the coming weeks as the Toffees are unlikely to be bullied into overpaying for the defender.
We could be looking at other options, but if Koulibaly fits into our price range, Marcel Brands is unlikely to pass up on the opportunity to sign him.
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