---
title: "Manchester City: Fans implore club to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-fans-implore-club-to-sign-napoli-defender-kalidou-koulibaly/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2020-01-09T06:20:26Z"
modified: "2020-01-09T06:20:26Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans implore club to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly

**According to a [report from 90 min.com](https://www.90min.com/posts/6531957-exclusive-manchester-city-ready-to-activate-kalidou-koulibaly-s-100m-release-clause), Manchester City could be prepared to trigger Napoli defender Kalidou Kouliably’s [£100 million release clause](https://www.90min.com/posts/6531957-exclusive-manchester-city-ready-to-activate-kalidou-koulibaly-s-100m-release-clause) next summer in a bid to strengthen their backline – with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham also said to be interested in his signature.**

The Sky Blues have suffered from a plethora of defensive [fitness issues](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/10/25/pep-guardiola-concerned-manchester-citys-lack-defensive-cover/) since the start of this season, having to improvise without the integral influence of Aymeric Laporte as he continues recovery from a [knee injury](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/aymeric-laporte-man-city-injury-17347777).

Manager Pep Guardiola, in response, has shifted Fernandinho into the centre-back role alongside the rotating Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones – whilst also having to adapt to life without club legend Vincent Kompany who [departed last summer](https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2019/may/man-city-vincent-kompany-leaves-man-city).

In comparison to City’s current defensive crop, Koulibaly has averaged a far superior tackles per game record than Stones and Otamendi – averaging [2.6](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/90880/Show/Kalidou-Koulibaly) (per WhoScored) challenges every 90 minutes in the league while Guardiola’s current natural centre-back pair have mustered just [1.1](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/101374/Show/John-Stones) and [1.2](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/75691/Show/Nicol%C3%A1s-Otamendi) respectively.

As a result, Citizens have implored the club to sign the Senegalese international – taking to Twitter and appealing to trigger his release clause.

Here’s what they had to say on social media.

> Physical, pacey for a CB, an absolute beast, not too bad on the ball ’cause he played sarri ball before, good header, speaks French (great partnership with Laporte) and English..\
> For the right price he’s the ideal fit for City..
>
> — 🅿️hoenix (@TwelfthBlue\_) [January 7, 2020](https://twitter.com/TwelfthBlue_/status/1214564386636890113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Needed badly
>
> — ʀʏᴀɴ🇧🇷 (@FavelaFlair) [January 7, 2020](https://twitter.com/FavelaFlair/status/1214572734057000960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Or Koulibaly in the summer
>
> — Will (@WillGobbett) [January 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/WillGobbett/status/1214863189793558529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Koulibaly is the only one who will fit for our centre back. He is world class.
>
> — Abdulla Atheeq Mohamed (@Atheeq\_12) [January 7, 2020](https://twitter.com/Atheeq_12/status/1214617427092205568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> A top top CB, physique, enough pace, organiser, goal scorer[@kkoulibaly26](https://twitter.com/kkoulibaly26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is perfect for some years ahead.\
> I’m also thinking of attackers like Benzema and Bale facing us, we need Koulibaly-Laporte, could make one of the most solid defensive pair, if not the most solid
>
> — TheeLuciano (@LucianoAdams13) [January 7, 2020](https://twitter.com/LucianoAdams13/status/1214675339668066305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> City fans to Koulibaly: [pic.twitter.com/VBzdnIiQv3](https://t.co/VBzdnIiQv3)
>
> — H-M-N-T-X (@h\_m\_n\_t\_X) [January 7, 2020](https://twitter.com/h_m_n_t_X/status/1214592167668146176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Would you like to see Koulibaly at the Etihad? Join the discussion by commenting below…***