Napoli and Kalidou Koulibaly have not made much progress in the extension talks. Even though he has just one year on his contract, it is far from a certainty he will leave even if he does not come to terms with the management, Corriere dello Sport informs.
The defender currently earns €6M, while president Aurelio De Laurentiis requested a steep pay cut. The Senegalese international might accept it. However, the opening offer was to slice his wages in half in a multi-year deal, which the defender rejected.
Luciano Spalletti asked the Napoli powerbrokers to make an exception to their salary policy for Koulibaly. The gaffer considers him the true linchpin of the squad. He will be the next captain following Lorenzo Insigne’s exit.
The Partenopei are not worried with Juventus eyeing their star. They believe the center-back would not betray them as Gonzalo Higuain did, Radio Kiss Kiss reports. They probably would not turn down a large bid from a top European side like Barcelona or Chelsea, though. But such proposal has arrived yet, and the Azzurri want €40M, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs. Considering his age, it is a long shot. The 31-year-old suggested he would stick around in an interview with BBC Sport Africa. The Blaugrana and the Blues appear keener on Sevilla’s Jules Koundé, Corriere adds.
Our Take on Koulibaly and Napoli
A move to Turin would be shocking considering his genuine attachment to the city and the fans. With the parties being very distant on the new contract, chances are he will play out the final year of it and leave on a free as Insigne did. Also, it is weird that the Azzurri intend to decrease their payroll despite being back in the Champions League.