Premier League clubs put on red alert as Napoli star rejects contract renewal

A host of Premier League clubs have been put on red alert as it has emerged that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is not set to extend his contract in Naples, leaving the door open to a potential sale in the summer before his deal expires in 2023.

The Senegal centre-back, part of the side that won the Africa Cup of Nations, has reportedly been a long-term target of Manchester United, while Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City have all also previously been credited with an interest in the 30-year-old.

Speaking on international duty, Koulibaly himself admitted that his future beyond this summer is unclear.

‘I won’t lie to you, I don’t know what’s gonna happen with my future. I was focused on Senegal then now we’ll see what happens’, the veteran revealed.

Kalidou Koulibaly: “I won’t lie to you, I don’t know what’s gonna happen with my future. I was focused on Senegal then now we’ll see what happens”. 🇸🇳 #transfers

Koulibaly’s contract expires in June 2023, Napoli are waiting for final answer after new deal proposal.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 8, 2022

Now, it is thought that Napoli would accept as little as 40m euros for the centre-back, having previously demanded over 80 in transfer windows past.

Where could he go?

Should the defender leave Naples this summer, the Premier League seems his most likely destination. From a financial standpoint, few outside of England could afford to match the demands of his current club.

But where? Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea are all on the hunt for a centre-back, though predominantly a left-footed option, with the trio seemingly circling around Villareal’s Pau Torres.

While it is a position that the Senegalese defender can occupy, he tends to be deployed on the right-hand side. Newcastle could also be an option, given their newfound wealth, but their attention appears firmly fixed on Sven Botman at present.