Koulibaly communicates desire to leave Napoli with Barça waiting

Koulibaly communicates desire to leave Napoli with Barça waiting

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The centre-back could be available for around €35m with his deal expiring in 2023

Kaildou Koulibaly feels his time at Napoli has come to an end and has told the Italian club of his desire to leave this summer with one year to run on his contract.

The relationship between the defender and the Italian club is good and they are likely to look for a transfer to avoid losing him for free in 2023.

Barcelona are being kept up to date on the situation, although they have not made an official offer for the player who is also interesting Chelsea, Tottenham and Juventus. But Koulibaly would prioritise a move to Barça.

The Catalan club want to sign a top-level centre-back. Xavi Hernandez has asked for Sevilla's Jules Kounde, but the LaLiga side want €65 million for him, too much for Barça. Chelsea are better placed to pay that.

Koulibaly is liked as well, though, and at around €35m represents a cheaper option, plus he's a left-sided centre-back, which would be good for Barça as they look to move on Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti.

Koulibaly's desire to leave is key to Napoli accepting to negotiate for a player they have previously declared not for sale. President Aurelio De Laurentiis is pushing a lot but the footballer is clear he doesn't want to renew, so must be sold.

Koulibaly has received Barça's interest and is waiting for negotiations between the two clubs. Barça would be willing to include players in the operation, such as Miralem Pjanic, be that on loan or permanently.

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