Chelsea ‘close’ to signing Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, in £34m transfer from Napoli on three-year contract
CHELSEA are on the verge of signing centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly for £34million from Napoli, according to reports.
The Blues have met with Koulibaly’s agent to agree on the terms for the defender's move to London.
The Senegalese international "should commit" to a three-year deal.
Boss Tuchel is desperate to bolster his backline having seen Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen depart as free agents this summer.
As a result, it emerged that Chelsea had been in discussions with his agent Fali Ramadani over the potential transfer.
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It is believed that Napoli have agreed on a fee in the region of £34m for the 31-year-old who has entered the last year of his contract.
Although Napoli are still looking to convince him to remain at the club and have offered him a new deal.
It was claimed last month how Napoli boss Luciano Spaletti would resign if the club offloaded the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations winner.
However president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already admitted that they cannot force the defender to stay.
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He said: "He is a symbol of Napoli, and if he wants to no longer be a symbol, he must decide.
"We must decide. We want Koulibaly to stay, but people can't be forced to stay. Everyone has their own dignity and needs. We respect everyone."
Meanwhile, Manchester City ace Nathan Ake is also understood to be another key target for Tuchel, with the Dutch defender keen to return to Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old is claimed to have agreed personal terms with Chelsea as they close in on the £45million signing.