Man City are ‘ahead’ of Man Utd as they prepare to up defender bid

Man City are ahead of Man Utd and other competition in the race to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.

The Senegal international has been consistently linked with a move to Man Utd and other Premier League clubs, with offers going in for the defender during Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford.

Koulibaly has been a key part of Napoli’s defence since 2014 when he swapped Belgian outfit Genk for the Serie A club, where he has amassed 245 appearances in all competitions.

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City were reported on Thursday to have ‘taken advantage’ of hesistancy from Man Utd to steal a march on their neighbours in the race for Koulibaly and those reports have been backed up again in Italy on Tuesday.

Sport Witness provide a round-up of the latest on the possible transfer from newspapers in Italy with local Naples publication Il Mattino saying that Koulibaly ‘continues to represent the number one goal for Manchester City where the Sheikh is ready to increase the initial offer of €70m to convince [Aurelio] De Laurentiis’.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Man City ‘seem intent on bringing the offer for Koulibaly up to €70m’ while it adds ‘who knows how long De Laurentiis will be able to hold out?’.

And finally, Corriere dello Sport declares that ‘we are entering a week that can become decisive’ in City’s deal to sign Koulibaly with Pep Guardiola’s side moving ‘ahead’ of Man Utd and their other competitors for the 29-year-old.

City’s initial offer was ‘insufficient’ in Napoli’s eyes and ‘there is a willingness’ from the Premier League side to come back with an improved offer,