Chelsea transfer news: Kalidou Koulibaly still Antonio Conte’s top target as Blues boss prepares to make £48million bid
Napoli ace wanted at Stamford Bridge but move complicated as replacement Nikola Maksimovic goes on strike at Torino
CHELSEA are determined to land Kalidou Koulibaly before the end of the month and will offer Napoli £48million for his signature, according to reports.
Antonio Conte is facing a crisis at the back, with just four senior defenders at his disposal as Kurt Zouma works towards a return from injury.
A new centre-back is his top priority after completing deals for striker Michy Batshuayi and midfielder N’Golo Kante, with Koulibaly the Italian’s preferred choice.
The Senegalese ace is wanted alongside Everton forward Romelu Lukaku and Brazilian Thiago Maia, and Chelsea have already failed with a £42m bid.
But Italian news outlet claims the Blues will return with an improved offer of £48m in an attempt to finally land their man.
However, Napoli want to keep Koulibaly for at least one more year after finding their attempts to sign a replacement in Nikola Maksimovic blocked by Torino.
The Serbian failed to report for training last Friday, instead flying home after insisting he’d agreed to move to Naples, and Torino boss Sinisa Mihajlovic is fuming.
The former AC Milan chief told : “I don’t know whether Maksimovic is making these mistakes by himself or whether he is just ill-advised, but I don’t care either way. He will pay the consequences for this behaviour because he has damaged our club.