Koulibaly desperate to join Manchester City but will stay at Napoli if asking price is not met – Gattuso

Napoli head coach Gennaro Gattuso has said Kalidou Koulibaly who is reportedly desperate to join Manchester City will stay if the Serie A club’s asking price is not met.

The Citizens have been negotiating with Napoli for several weeks over their asking price for the Senegalese, with Aurelio de Laurentiis looking to make at least €90m after turning down €100m last summer.

City are reported to already have personal terms with the player and are now just looking to agree on a deal with Napoli. It is understood City had offered as much as £63m, leaving the two clubs far apart in terms of the final fee.

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Italian outlet Corriere del Mezzogirono via Sport Witness claims that Koulibaly wants to make a move to a high-profile club before it is too late, with the 29-year-old currently tied down to Napoli until 2023.

However, According to the Blues coach when asked about Koulibaly’s situation after their big friendly win against Pescara, Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia via Goal: “Koulibaly has a precise asking price, and if the club doesn’t get the money it is asking for, then he won’t leave.”

While negotiations between City and Napoli have already been dragged out for a while, the report also claims that talks could be further impacted as Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has tested positive for coronavirus.