Manchester United’s interest in a new central defender means one player was always destined to crop up.
The Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho was still in charge when interest in Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly first emerged.
Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis claimed that the club rejected a £95 million bid from United for the Senegalese centre-half back in 2018.
“[Jose] Mourinho wanted him, we rejected £95 million,” he told Corriere del Mezzogiorno at the time. “But now it’s impossible that he leaves Napoli.”
Links continued when the Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge and it was stated he was also a big fan of the player.
United eventually purchased Harry Maguire for a world-record sum, but they’re now closing in on a move for another new defender to partner him.
It is widely reported that the Red Devils will look to strengthen the defence in the summer as they aim to take the next step to become real title contenders.
United could be given another chance to land Koulibaly – for less than half the price of the offer they allegedly had snubbed in the past.
According to the local newspaper, Il Mattino, Partenopei need to make cuts and could now be available because of his high salary.
It is stated their offer of around €45 million (£38.8 million) could be accepted by the club given current circumstances.
If that is the case, then fans would imagine the Red Devils may be interested to explore a possible deal for far less than they’d have had to pay in previous transfer windows.
