Kalidou Koulibaly ‘will be a Chelsea player TOMORROW and is flying to London tonight for his medical’ after the Blues smashed a £34m deal with Napoli to replace Antonio Rudiger as the next signing of Todd Boehly’s era.
The Senegalese defender is expected to sign for the west London club for £34million tomorrow fulfilling eight years with Italian giants Napoli.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been eager to bolster defense following the partings of Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen to Barcelona early this month.
Having reportedly considered moves for Manchester City center-half Nathan Ake and Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, the Blues are now on the verge of adding experienced 31-year-old Koulibaly to the fold.
According to Sky Sport Italia, the Senegal captain is prepared to take a private jet to west London ahead of his medical at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Reports from Italy claim the 31-year-old is ready to pen a €6m per year deal at Chelsea following a successful medical.
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti told his players earlier this week that ‘Koulibaly is almost gone and that he would exit the club this summer, Il Corriere Dello Sport has announced.
Amid early links with Barcelona, Koulibaly rejected a contract extension with Napoli, leaving the Italian club little choice but to arrange an exit as he reached the final year of his deal.
The center-half’s flight to London caps off a busy day of transfer activity for Chelsea after Raheem Sterling all but confirmed his £50m move to Stamford Bridge with an emotional good-bye message to Manchester City.
Chelsea is also on the verge of signing 18-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from the Chicago Fire, who is predicted to return on loan to the MLS side next season.
Koulibaly played 27 times for Napoli last season as the Italian club secured Champions League qualification and claimed the third spot behind AC Milan and Inter.
He scored three and assisted three in Serie A’s last season, matching Rudiger’s contribution from the defense for Chelsea.
