---
title: "Chelsea dealt huge blow in pursuit of £38m rated defender"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-dealt-huge-blow-in-pursuit-of-38m-rated-defender/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Rosser"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2016-07-23T19:30:01Z"
modified: "2016-07-23T19:30:01Z"
---

# Chelsea dealt huge blow in pursuit of £38m rated defender

**Chelsea fans here in the bar at the Football Transfer Tavern this weekend are excited to see their side under the guise of Antonio Conte. With pre-season in full swing the clock is ticking for managers to get in all their signings before the start of the new season.**

According to reports from Italian journalist [Gianluca Di Marzio](https://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/eng/napoli-positive-signals-from-koulibaly-a-renewal-is-now-more-likely/), Chelsea have been dealt a decisive blow in their pursuit of Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibaly.

The £38m [rated](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2016/07/19/25767542/napolis-45m-koulibaly-offered-to-arsenal?ICID=SP_HN_HP_RI_0_1) defender is supposedly back on good terms with the Serie A side after it had been seemingly clear that he was set to leave.

The Blues were reportedly preparing a £33m bid for the 25-year-old however as Di Marzio reports, Napoli are set to meet with their man to discuss a new contract.

Conte is in the market for another central defender in order to bolster his back line, having already been [linked](https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiv9raZpIrOAhVsDMAKHTJ_BAcQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2016%2F07%2F01%2Fjuventus-prepare-for-chelsea-target-leonardo-bonucci-departure-by-moving-for-bayern-munich-star-5978351%2F&usg=AFQjCNGTTafn0EaDdr_ab52bVsjUXnYzzA&sig2=-asAW6FFYHXuwPIUi0Azvw&bvm=bv.127984354,d.ZGg) with his compatriot, Leonardo Bonucci earlier in the window.

**Chelsea fans, we want to hear from you! Should Conte pull out all the stops to bring in Koulibaly? Let us know in the comments below…**