Man Utd plotting world-record £90m summer swoop for Koulibaly
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent his top scout Jim Lawlor to watch the Napoli centre-half in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Fiorentina
MANCHESTER UNITED are planning a world record £90million summer swoop for defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Interim United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent his top scout Jim Lawlor to watch the Napoli centre-half in last Saturday’s 0-0 Serie A draw at Fiorentina.
United sources say Lawlor was impressed with the Senegal international, who also starred in Napoli’s 3-1 Europa League win at FC Zurich five days later.
Koulibaly, 27, admits he has been flattered by interest in him, saying: “I am pleased that many teams follow me.
“But I want to demonstrate on the field I am at the level of the greatest and I want to show it in the future.”
United are ready to smash the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk – the current record for a defender – to land their No1 target, even though Koulibaly admits he might not be worth that much.
“I don’t know if I’m one of the strongest defenders in the world,” he said. “But I always try to give my best.”
SunSport revealed last week Solskjaer will be named United’s full-time manager, although the club may not announce it until the end of the season.
As such, the Norwegian has has been working closely with Lawlor, whose own influence has increased since Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December.
Landing a centre-back has been a priority since BEFORE Mourinho’s departure and United have also been linked with Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Toby Alderweireld.