Manchester United to battle City for £65m top defensive targets – reports

Manchester United are admirers of Manchester City top target Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and will consider a summer move, according to reports.

Koulibaly, who is a genuine target for City this summer has been linked with a move away from Naples for several transfer windows now, after the defender established himself as one of Europe’s most formidable defenders.

Guardiola is desperate to find a reliable centre-back partner for Aymeric Laporte and has identified the 29-year-old as a priority signing.

As per Il Mattino as relayed by CalcioNapoli24 last week, Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadani had a ‘long chat’ with Manchester City which concluded that City’s first offer of €60 million for the centre-back would ‘not be enough’.

Report rom Sky Italy claim the Citizens are ‘prepared’ to make a bid of €65 million for the 29-year-old – approximately €10 million below Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis’ valuation.

It is reported that Napoli are not wanting to sell for anything less than €80-90 million or €70 million plus bonuses

According to Marca’s Chris Winterburn, the Red Devils will consider a summer approach for the Senegal international in the upcoming window.

If Koulibaly was available they would look into it, concerns over Lindelof and Maguire as a pairing. However, there will be competition for KK and it’s unlikely to be an auction United can win

— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) July 21, 2020

Manchester United have quietly made their interest known as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to increase his own defensive options ahead of what he hopes is a title challenge next season.

The Sun reported that Manchester United  remain interested in making a swoop for Nathan Ake, despite reports that the centre-back is close to sealing a move to City.