According to the Daily Star, Everton have made a decision not to sign Kalidou Koulibaly and ‘believe’ the central defender is ‘out of their price range’.
Koulibaly has been linked with a move away from SSC Napoli this summer, but the Serie A giants aren’t willing to accept less than £100m.
Everton’s most expensive signing is Gylfi Sigurdsson (£45m from Swansea City in 2017), so it was always unlikely they would stump up so much money for one player.
Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli isn’t willing to lower his demands despite Covid-19 causing a financial crisis among clubs, so Everton will have to turn their attentions elsewhere.
Koulibaly joined Napoli from KRC Genk in 2014 and has gone on to make 233 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and making five assists. He’s impressed for years at the Stadio San Paolo and has attracted interest from a host of clubs as a result.
But Everton’s pursuit of the 28-year-old is unlikely to have a positive ending, as Napoli aren’t budging on their valuation. Thiago Silva, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marash Kumbulla, Christian Luyindama, Issa Diop and Tosin Adarabioyo are on the Toffees’ radar this summer, so they should focus on one of them instead.