Manchester United have been told the transfer fee for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly according to popular Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport.
Kalidou Koulibaly is expected to be one of the most in-demand players in the summer as Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has softened his stance.
Aurelio De Laurentiis had earlier told interested clubs that they have to pay the £127m release clause in the contract of the player. Napoli will sell Kalidou Koulibaly for at least £85m this summer according to the aforementioned report.
Manchester United, Juventus, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all keen to sign Koulibaly who’s widely regarded as one of the best centre backs in the world.
Kalidou Koulibaly would be the most expensive defender in the history of the game if he moves away from the Italian Serie A giants for £85m.
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The fee would surpass the £80m paid by Manchester United to Leicester City for Harry Maguire who’s now the Red Devils skipper.
Kalidou Koulibaly has been injured in recent weeks and that forced him to miss the Champions League last 16 first leg clash with Spanish La Liga side Barcelona earlier in the week.
The player faces a race against time to be fit for the second leg at the Nou Camp next month.
Without Koulibaly, Napoli were very impressive against favourites Barcelona but they were not able to keep a clean sheet that would have given them a fantastic opportunity of progressing into the next stage at the expense of the five-time champions of the competition.
Napoli took a first half lead through Dries Mertens who’s their topscorer in the Champions League this season with six goals. He was also able to equal the leading goalscorer record of Marek Hamsik with his 123rd goal in a Napoli shirt.
Barcelona attacker Antoine Griezmann equalised for his team in the second half as the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw ahead of the second leg.
