Chelsea issue Napoli ultimatum over Koulibaly – report
Chelsea are pursuing alternative defensive targets after telling Napoli they have made their final offer for Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.
The Blues are understood to have failed in a series of bids for Koulibaly, with Antonio Conte desperate to sign a new centre-back.
However, Chelsea could now turn their attention to Torino’s Nikola Maksimovic, with a final bid of around £40million on the table for Senegal international Koulibaly, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Napoli are also interested in Maksimovic, who could cost around £25million and went on strike last week in an attempt to force a move from the Serie A club.
On the future of Maksimovic, Torino director of sport Gianluca Petrachi said: “We’ve been talking to Napoli about Maksimovic since January, so there’s been too much talk and not enough action.
“Now he is wanted by a big foreign club too, but at the same time we won’t rule out him staying too. It’s not just Napoli who want Maksimovic, but also a big club from abroad.
“It is an English club and the Premier League does have greater financial resources than other leagues.”