Kalidou Koulibaly to consider Liverpool move amidst Everton interest

According to Italian publication Calciomercato (h/t Express), Napoli ace Kalidou Koulibaly is considering a move to Liverpool. This comes after he turned down a reunion with former boss Carlo Ancelotti as Everton.

The Senegalese superstar is keen on leaving Napoli following the club’s regression under Gennaro Gattuso. (h/t Express)

One of the world’s best defenders, the 28-year-old will not be short of options. Although there was strong interest from Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, their inability to  provide Champions League football has worked against them. (h/t Express)

According to the report, Liverpool have been touted as one of the player’s probable destinations. The defending European and World Champions, the Reds are on the verge of Premier League glory. Koulibaly will be joining a side that doesn’t just compete in the Champions League but actively participates to win it.

Koulibaly, who has had an injury-hit season, is contracted to Napoli until 2023. Hence, he has made just 21 appearances this season.  The Senegalese will not come cheap with the Italians holding out for at least £100m. This will dwarf the fee the Reds paid for Virgil van Dijk two years ago while also breaking the world record for the most expensive defender ever.

Liverpool already have a formidable center-back pairing in Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Signing Koulibaly will give us another colossus at the back, but will come at the cost of Gomez’s development.

The English youngster has shown he has the skill to succeed at the highest level. And, signing the Senegalese could well prove detrimental to that.

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Liverpool already have a number of Africa’s top talents at the club. Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita, Joel Matip, and Sadio Mane are some of the continent’s finest.

In Mane, the Reds already have one Senegalese lynchpin already in the side. Adding Koulibaly will only improve our profile in the country. Koulibaly, however, is an expensive proposition at this given time. Moreover, signing a first-choice defender is not a priority right now and the Reds will do well to pass.