Chelsea and Tottenham ‘in contact’ with Kalidou Koulibaly over £100m transfer from Napoli this month

KALIDOU KOULIBALY is in the sights of London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea, according to reports.

The Napoli star has been on the wanted list of a string of Premier League clubs over the past two years after impressing with his defensive abilities.

The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best defenders playing in Europe but has so far been hard to prise away from Napoli's clutches.

But Koulibaly could now be allowed to leave the club during the transfer window amid the fall-out of the row which led to Carlo Ancelotti being sacked.

Senior players are known to have been upset with the actions of owner Aurelio de Laurentiis which led to him dumping Ancelotti hours after he had guided the side into the last 16 of the Champions League.

And Koulibaly is thought to have been one of those leading the challenge to the authority of De Laurentiis.

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That has left his own position in Naples uncertain, and given fresh encouragement to interested clubs elsewhere that a deal could be struck in January.

According to a report in the local Naples publication Cirrier del Mozzogiorno, both Spurs and Chelsea have made contact with the player's representatives to discover the situation.

Chelsea have been long-term admirers of Koulibaly but twice seen attempts to sign him blocked by De Laurentiis.

But Frank Lampard's side could do with an experienced central defender to provide some know-how in the back line, and should Koulibaly become available he would obviously have an interest.

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Tottenham also desperately need to strengthen at the back with the team conceding far too many soft goals this season.

Jose Mourinho was a huge fan of the Senegalese star during his time in charge of Manchester United, and recommended they signed him when he was there.

That interest is thought to remain, though Spurs would have to come up with around £100million if they wanted to sign him.