Chelsea issue Napoli ultimatum over Koulibaly – report

Matt Stead

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.”