MANCHESTER CITY are leading the race to sign Kalidou Koulibaly – with Liverpool prioritising other areas of their squad this summer.
Napoli chiefs have told boss Gennaro Gattuso the in-demand Senegal star will be sold in the upcoming transfer window.
Koulibaly can see himself at Man City next season, according to Duncan Castles
Manchester United have been long-term admirers, with Liverpool recent favourites to sign him.
But now Man City lead the race after the Reds shifted their transfer focus, according to Duncan Castles.
Speaking to Ian McGarry, Castles said: “Gattuso has been told Koulibaly WILL be sold this summer.
“Koulibaly himself is open to that and is ready for a change of environment.
“He’s keen to move to the Premier League.
“There’s been talk of Liverpool leading the race to pair him with Virgil van Dijk in what would be an impressive defence.
“While Liverpool are in the market for a centre-back, it’s very much dependent on what they’re able to do in other areas of the team.”
Castles explained: “They want to sell Dejan Lovren – and if they do, they can bring in a new centre-back.
“They also want a back-up left-back – and one idea to solve both problems is to sign a left-footed centre-back you is comfortable at left-back.
“Their priority, though, is to sign someone in attack after missing out on Timo Werner.
“Pre-lockdown, Napoli wanted £90million for Koulibaly, but [Liverpool would prefer] closer to £50m.
“Talk from Napoli is they could be looking at around £70m now for Koulibaly.”
Castles went on to say that sources close to the Napoli defender have revealed the man himself can see himself ending up at the Etihad.
“The word from people close to Koulibaly is he thinks there’s a strong chance he will end up at Man City.
“The noises and effort City have made so far and their greater need for a top centre-back [make it favourable to Koulibaly].
“They’re short on quality at centre-back and the only option Pep Guardiola trusts is Aymeric Laporte.
“In Koulibaly’s mind, it’s his more likely destination this summer.”
Rio Ferdinand urges Man United to splash out £250m on Jadon Sancho, Kalidou Koulibaly and Saúl Ñíguez transfers this summer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
