Chelsea frontrunners to sign Kalidou Koulibaly?

Chelsea have reportedly taken the lead in the race to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Blues were strongly linked with Sevilla’s Jules Kounde over the summer, but were put off by the reported price tag of €65m for the centre-back.

The Spanish outfit made it clear that they won’t sell him for less than €80m on transfer deadline day.

Chelsea will make a fresh move for Kounde at the midway point of the campaign, but reports claim that the Andalusian outfit won’t negotiate until next summer.

Hence, Thomas Tuchel’s side may be eyeing alternatives, and it is reported that they could return for one of their former targets in the form of Koulibaly, who is available for around €50m.

🚨🔵 #Chelsea is seriously interested in Kalidou #Koulibaly. The #Napoli centre-back evaluation is around €50M: 🇸🇳 defender can be considered an alternative to #Kounde already in the January transfer market session. 🐓⚽️

Together with @kors_andreas 🤝 #Calciomercato #Transfers

— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) September 4, 2021

The West London outfit are deemed favourites to pursue his services at the beginning of 2022.

Chelsea are long-term admirers of the Senegal international. They first attempted to secure his signature back in 2016.