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BREAKING: The Blues fans in cloud nine after top defender Koulibaly breaks silence on Chelsea transfer
It emerged as rumours on Tuesday that Chelsea were close to agreeing a (£33.8million swoop for Napoli’s top defender Kalidou Koulibaly with further talks still needed to conclude on the fee and structure of the deal.
Meanwhile, National Daily can confirm that it is however a great feeling for the fans of the Stamford Bridge club going by the report by Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio that talks are progressing at such speed that a deal could be completed and signed off by the end of today (Wednesday).
It is believed that Napoli are ready to shake hands on a deal worth €38m (£32.1m) – which will be paid in two installments – in addition to a further €2m (£1.7m) in bonuses
Talks between Chelsea and Koulibaly – who only has one year left on his deal with the Italian club – have also progressed quickly, with the defender having verbally agreed personal terms too.
Chelsea are expected to wrap up the deal for Koulibaly immediately
The Senegal international will earn £160,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge, in addition to various performance related bonuses.
Initial reports had suggested Koulibaly would only be handed a three-year contract with the option for a fourth, but Di Marzio claims the centre-back will sign a five-year deal – though the fifth year may only be an option.
That would mark a dramatic change in approach from the Roman Abramovich era, where players over the age of 30 were only handed short-term contracts, and underlines the extent to which co-owner Todd Boehly is backing Thomas Tuchel.
The deal is advanced enough that Koulibaly may not return to Napoli’s pre-season camp in Val di Sole, having been permitted to meet with his agent in Milan to finalise the agreement.
He has already confirmed that talks are moving in the right direction, with journalist Romain Collet-Gaudin quoting Koulibaly as saying: ‘I’ll confirm that [the transfer] later, but it’s on the right track.’
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has also addressed Koulibaly’s potential exit, saying during a fan Q&A on Instagram: ‘I prefer Koulibaly to be with us always, especially as he would be captain this season.
‘If he chooses to leave, we will never stop thanking him for all the help he has given us. If he wants to choose something else, we wish him all the best, because he deserves it.’
Chelsea will hope to wrap up a deal for Koulibaly by the end of the week and will then focus on signing two more centre-backs, with The Blues boss keen to bring in both Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe.
