---
title: "Manchester City: Fans baulk at £110m valuation of reported target Kalidou Koulibaly"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-fans-baulk-at-110m-valuation-of-reported-target-kalidou-koulibaly/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2019-10-10T19:10:44Z"
modified: "2019-10-10T19:10:44Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans baulk at £110m valuation of reported target Kalidou Koulibaly

**According to reports from Spain \[[via SportsMole](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/transfer-talk/news/man-city-enter-kalidou-koulibaly-race_374502.html)\], Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has been identified as a possible defensive target for Manchester City by manager Pep Guardiola.**

\[freshpress-poll id=”249812″\]

With defensive midfielder Fernandinho being [deployed at centre-back recently](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/26267) following injuries to [Aymeric Laporte](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/04/manchester-city-aymeric-laporte-knee-surgery-long-absence) and [John Stones](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-injury-news-debruyne-17036910), Guardiola is reportedly determined to sign a player for this position in the January transfer window \[[via SportsMole](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/transfer-talk/news/man-city-enter-kalidou-koulibaly-race_374502.html)\].

However, Napoli would be unlikely to let the 28-year-old defender leave unless his £110m release clause is met, as relayed by [SportsMole](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/transfer-talk/news/man-city-enter-kalidou-koulibaly-race_374502.html) and posted by [@City\_Chief](https://twitter.com/City_Chief/status/1181943092443844610) on Twitter.

> | Manchester City have joined the race for Napoli centre back Kalidou Koulibaly. The 28 year-old would only be allowed to leave if his £110m release clause is activated.
>
> \[SportsMole\] [pic.twitter.com/RUSwkbzH1E](https://t.co/RUSwkbzH1E)
>
> — City Chief (@City\_Chief) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/City_Chief/status/1181943092443844610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[Goal.com](https://www.goal.com/en/news/man-utd-chase-rice-koulibaly-regardless-of-solskjaers-future/fu7ekhdjivs1v9l4fs3h1w9u) reported this week that Koulibaly is also a transfer target for Manchester United, and the defender’s recent form has not gone unnoticed.

Speaking after Napoli’s Champions League win over Liverpool last month, BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton said that the Senegal centre-back has “all the attributes that a manager such as Pep Guardiola would want in a central defender”. \[[via Daily Star](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/chris-sutton-makes-man-city-20086734)\]

Paul Merson also made a case for Koulibaly as an ideal target for the Premier League champions in a column for the [Daily Star](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/walkers-england-snub-man-city-19580251) in recent weeks.

However, these Manchester City fans on Twitter feel that the Napoli man is overpriced:

> It’s so very expensive
>
> — Xaverius Advent Kristiyan (@advntskrstyn25) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/advntskrstyn25/status/1181951796614332416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Big NO
>
> — baihaqi (@byhaqiii) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/byhaqiii/status/1181963060199583744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> City don’t spend 110m on a 28yr old. Dead story
>
> — Kiam MCFC (@kiammcfc) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/kiammcfc/status/1182005558255112192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 110 mill for 28 year old err…no ta.
>
> — (@bluezelos) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/bluezelos/status/1181944900633464834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Only £100 million to much
>
> — IanWoods (@CitehViking) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/CitehViking/status/1181943871024062465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> £50m max for his age
>
> — #GJ9 (@iOxQ8\_) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/iOxQ8_/status/1181997224852692995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Nah we’re good cheers
>
> — James Harold (@JRHarold92) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/JRHarold92/status/1182047401856684034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 28 now. Won’t be available till end of season. £110m ? Too much.
>
> — tony osborne (@biggingertone) [October 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/biggingertone/status/1182016998508843008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Manchester City should seriously consider signing Koulibaly or is his valuation excessive? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***