A source from Newcastle United has revealed that the club’s number one transfer target is Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Lowdown: Rolling in the money
The St James’ Park outfit are now rolling in the money following confirmation of the takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.
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Thus, it is no surprise at all to see them being linked with some big names like Koulibaly and Philippe Coutinho.
The Latest: Koulibaly is Newcastle’s top target
Speaking to Football Insider, a Tyneside source has now revealed that Koulibaly is top of the list of targets that Newcastle want to bring in following the takeover, as he is ‘widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the game’. That status is reflected in him being named as Serie A’s best defender for the 2018/19 season.
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He is reportedly seen by those advising the new owners as an ‘A-grade defensive leader capable of transforming the back line’, and his current deal at Napoli expires in 2023.
The Verdict: Sign
Koulibaly would be the perfect marquee signing to represent the new era at St James’ Park, and there is every chance that other big names would be persuaded to join Newcastle if he were to sign.
Currently rated at £43.2m by Transfermarkt, the Senegal international is a colossus, winning 3.4 of his duels and averaging 2.4 clearances per game in Serie A so far this season, helping his team to keep four clean sheets in just seven matches as they lead the way with a 100% record in the league (Sofascore).
If the Magpies are going to have any immediate success, it will need to be built on solid defensive foundations with the nature of the Premier League, and Koulibaly would almost certainly accelerate that process should he make the move to Tyneside.
In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ manager is being mooted to replace Steve Bruce
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