Manchester United will press ahead with their January transfer plans, despite sacking Jose Mourinho this week.
Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be consulted, but any moves will focus on long-standing targets set out as far back as the summer.Senior sources are also adamant the club will not be panicked into paying over the odds next month and are prepared to wait until the end of the season if deals cannot be struck for the players at the top of their wanted list.
There has since been an acceptance that the 27-year-old is worth splashing out on, but Napoli are proving stubborn negotiators. Koulibaly is believed to want to move to the Premier League and could soon have representation in the UK.
Central defence is an area United want to strengthen in January, and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld could be available at a cut price. AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli and Inter’s Milan Skriniar have also been under consideration for some time, while FC Porto starlet Eder Militao is also on United’s radar.
United insiders say they are aware of the difficulties of dealing in January.
They are fully prepared to let the window close without making any major additions despite their desperation to secure a top four finish and progress further in the Champions League.