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Liverpool and Chelsea in transfer war for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly
LIVERPOOL and Chelsea are prepared to go head-to-head to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.
Liverpool and Chelsea both want Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly has long been linked with a move away from Napoli with reports stemming back to last summer
The defender has since signed a new deal with the Italian side in September, keeping him at the club until June 2021.
However, Italian outlet CalcioMercato say this has not deterred Liverpool and Chelsea who are still keen on the Senegal international.
And the report claims Napoli are likely to lose their star man if the two Premier League clubs' interest picks up pace.
Kalidou Koulibaly has admitted he wants to play in the Premier League
Kalidou Koulibaly shows off impressive defence skills
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is also resigned to losing Koulibaly if big clubs come knocking in the summer.
Speaking about losing the centre-half last month, he said: "If there's a new offer from Chelsea for Koulibaly?
"It will depend on the player's will, because if he doesn't want to stay then he can leave."
And Koulibaly himself has also opened the door to a move to the Premier League, calming he could not totaly pledge his future to Napoli.
It would make me happy to come and play in the Premier League
"It would make me happy to come and play here [Premier League], but now I have to go to Napoli," he said.
"In the future you never know. Now I concentrate on my club and we will see next season what I have to do.
"I think I will stay in Napoli but you never know. I can't talk about it now. We will see."
Koulibaly has made 36 appearances for Napoli this season in all competitions, scoring one goal.
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