Chelsea fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern have gone on about this rumour for months; and now it looks like it is all coming together for the boys in blue.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly all summer long, and after weeks of back and forth; we finally have some definitive news on the topic.
The move has thus far had two key stumbling blocks; the fee paid by The Blues and Napoli’s ability to bring in a replacement.
With news emerging yesterday that Chelsea have upped their bid to a stunning €50 million, many Blues fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern had speculated whether Napoli would finally accept the deal. And whilst Napoli remain quiet on the deal, there has been some significant movement in the Italian market.
Napoli have, for weeks, been touted with a move for Torino defender Nikola Maksimovic as a purported replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, but Torino have thus far been unwilling to do business.
This may however change now, with Torino yesterday confirming that a deal to bring central defender Luca Rossettini to the club has been completed.
In theory, Rossettini’s signing will allow for Maksimovic to leave the club, with Napoli his most likely destination.
Should Napoli bring the defender in, he should in theory be an acceptable replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly; leaving the Senegalese defender free to join The Blues.
There is a lot of theory and hypotheticals in place here; but with Maksimovic now seemingly in a position where he would be able to leave the club; anything could happen.
Our landlord reckons that the Chelsea to Koulbialy rumours are about to step up, big time…
What do you think Chelsea fans? Could this deal be about to happen?
Let us know below!
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