Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged club chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak to do everything it takes to sign Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Senegalese defender is Guardiola’s top transfer targets as the City manager sees him as the perfect replacement for former captain Vincent Kompany, who left the club last summer.
City have been heavily linked with the 29-year-old Senegalese defender for several months now with personal terms already agreed according to reports.
It is understood the Premier League club had offered as much as £63m, leaving the two clubs far apart in terms of the final fee, and now the Citizens are ready to make a new offer to acquire him.
The club’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis who is expected to have the final say, had publicly described the difficulties in the negotiations because of the bad blood that exist between both Club due to the transfer saga of 2018 surrounding Jorginho’s move to Chelsea
According to Daily Express, Guardiola has pleaded with the City chairman to put aside any grudges and do his best to bring the 29-year-old defender to the Etihad.
The report adds the Citizens appear to be heeding the Catalan manager’s calls as they are trying to use Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadami as a go-between.
City’s need for a centre-half is a priority this summer, and have been heavily linked with a move for many defenders like José Giménez, Upamecano, Milan Skriniar, Diego Carlos, Pedro Porro and Kalidou Koulibaly in recent weeks.
Despite the £41m capture of Ake from Bournemouth already this summer, defenders remain the priority. It’s clear that Guardiola needs to find a quality centre back pairing for Aymeric Laporte.
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