Manchester United are readying a £90million bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.
Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Liverpool in a £75million deal from Southampton last year.
But The Sun claim United are set to smash that world-record with a £90million summer swoop for Koulibaly.
Interim Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent scout Jim Lawlor to watch the 27-year-old in Napoli’s goalless draw with Fiorentina last weekend.
United are in desperate need of a commanding centre-half having conceded 35 league goals so far this season with a rotating cast of Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly all appearing in the heart of their defence.
Koulibaly has admitted he is ‘pleased’ to be attracting transfer interest from other clubs.
He told Italian outlet Rai Sport: “My future? I don’t know if I’m one of the strongest defenders. I always try to give my best.
“Since I’m here, I always try to grow with Napoli.
“I have a lot of motivation to go on and I want to keep doing this.
“I am pleased that many teams follow me, but I want to demonstrate on the field that I am at the level of the greatest and I want to show it in the future.”
Koulibaly joined Napoli for £6.5million from Genk in 2014 and has since played 194 times for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.