After a frankly disastrous season, Manchester United are desperately looking for measures to revamp their squad in preparation for a better result next season.
United are supposedly ready to bid €95m for centre back Kalidou Koulibaly, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeks an answer to his lack of defensive steel, according to a report in Italy. However, the amount (if true) is unlikely to move Napoli.
Koulibaly has earned himself a name during his time in Italy and was named the best defender in the Serie A 2018-19 season.
The Senegal international is an integral part of a defence that kept 14 clean sheets in the Italian league this season as Carlo Ancelotti’s side finished runners-up to Juventus for the second year in a row.
According to reports, Koulibaly has been a long time target for United as the Red Devils have remained relentless in a bid to secure the signature of the Senegalese.
Strengthening the defence will no doubt be one of Solskjaer’s priorities, his side having kept just seven clean sheets throughout the league season.
However, the rumoured offer from United for Koulibaly seems unlikely to tempt Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis into selling.
Why? The defender has a contract that runs until 2023, while Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti has previously said he believes the centre back is not for sale unless his €150m release clause is activated.
In addition, de Laurentiis has been famously outspoken on rejected bids for Koulibaly in the past, while a report as from as recently as last month claimed the Red Devils had already seen a €110m bid turned down.
United have also been linked with other defenders like Ajax young captain Matthijs de Ligt, Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a bid to make strong their defence.
What next?
All eyes are waiting to see if United will go ahead with their bid and whether Napoli will be ready to listen to them and release their sensational defender Koulibaly.