‘Not for sale’: Manager claims he’s definitely not selling £34m star after his linked move to Chelsea this summer

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Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti insists defender Kalidou Koulibaly won’t be sold this summer amid transfer links to Chelsea.

Koulibaly, 30, is a highly rated centre-back that’s had a glowing reputation across Europe for several years.

It’s been reported the defender’s agent would like his client to join Chelsea or Barcelona ahead of next season. He could reportedly cost a bargain £34million for any club to sign this summer, too.

However, there’s been a fairly firm response from Napoli to the Koulibaly transfer rumours that seem to surface each transfer window.

Koulibaly won’t be sold

Spalletti is confident that he won’t lose Napoli’s key centre-half in the upcoming summer window.

He’s entering the final year of his contract in Naples, so it’s no surprise there are big question marks over his future.

The powerhouse defender, who won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year with Senegal, would be a marquee signature for any club. It sounds like he’ll be staying put, though.

“Koulibaly in my view is not for sale, just like last season when I threatened to chain myself to the gates if he was sold. I’m doing it again!” said the coach in his press conference,” Spalletti said.

“This is a player always open to giving a helping hand, knows where to intervene and how to raise the level, he does what is needed. We want to have another important season, so he cannot be sold.

“People say you can get a younger player, but you can’t buy a leader who developed here over so many years, who lives and breathes the city and gives that passion back on the pitch.”

Rudiger replacement?

It sounds like Napoli will dig their heels in to keep key player Koulibaly, but his contract situation is definitely an interesting one to monitor.

The African star looks like he’d be an ideal replacement for Antonio Rudiger at Chelsea, who’s now played his last game for the Blues ahead of his summer exit.

However, the path to Koulibaly may be blocked.

For certain, it would be great to see the Blues sign a defender with real authority and experience to try fill the Rudiger void.

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