Man Utd: Solskjaer says he 'hopes' they can win Europa League
The summer transfer window is about to go from bad to worse for Manchester United chief Ed Woodward as he looks set to miss out on another transfer target after Manchester City submitted a bid to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Man Utd chief Ed Woodward is set to miss out on another transfer target this summer (Image: GETTY)
Koulibaly was deemed a perfect fit given his experience of playing at the highest level.
But Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport claim City are about to beat their cross-town rivals to the punch.
Pep Guardiola feels he needs to improve his defence if he is to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table.
Nathan Ake has already completed a £41m move from Bournemouth and Koulibaly could be joining him at the Etihad.
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City have apparently offered £56m up front with add-ons and instalments taking the price up to £63m - which is Napoli's asking price.
It is unclear if the opening offer has been accepted butGazzetta dello Sportadd that United have not yet made their first move.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has recently claimed he will not let his Senegal international leave for less than £91m.
“If City or United or PSG with €100million showed up, I would think about it and it is probable that they would leave, always if [the player's] will was to leave,” he said.
Man City have reportedly submitted an opening bid for Kalidou Koulibaly (Image: GETTY)
“I don’t even consider an offer of €60million (£55m), I am solid. If I wanted to win the Scudetto at any cost today I would find myself with three, four hundred million debts.
“I look around and see companies at 500, 600 million, less a billion, I don’t owe anyone a s**t.”