Koulibaly offered transfer lifeline away from Chelsea after just one season with talks ‘ongoing’

KALIDOU KOULIBALY has allegedly been offered a shock transfer away from Chelsea after a dire first season at the club.

The defender signed for the Blues in a £34million deal last summer but his switch from Napoli soon turned into a nightmare.

Chelsea went through three managers in a dismal campaign that saw them finish 12th and miss out on European football.

We reported last month how the 31-year-old Senegal international was allegedly unhappy at Stamford Bridge.

And Juventus were said to be plotting a swoop to bring him back to Serie A.

Now he could be offered another escape route out of West London by the Middle East.

claims that Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund, who give financial back to numerous teams, are hoping to convince him to follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and head to the Saudi Pro League.

They also add that Koulibaly is “open to the discussions” over the potential switch.

Previous reports have stated that the centre-half has already been told that he can leave once the summer window opens.

That has led PIF to approach him over the prospect of playing for Al-Ittihad.

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That is the club that have just signed Benzema from Madrid with the player penning a whopping £342m financial package.

However, PIF “are willing to allow him to join any other club should he wish” instead.

This fresh update states that the Koulibaly “talks are ongoing” although an agreement is not close at this moment.

The ace is under contract at Chelsea until 2026 but after the turmoil of the past 12 months, he is said to be “attracted by the proposal” with “all parties expecting more clarity” on potential transfer later this week.

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