Loads of Everton fans have been reacting on social media to reports by Corriere Della Sera (via Calciomercato), that Carlo Ancelotti is keen to raid his former side SSC Napoli for Kalidou Koulibaly and Piotr Zielinski.
Ancelotti was appointed as our new manager on Saturday, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal eleven days after being fired by the Serie A outfit, and is already thinking ahead to next summer’s transfer window as he bids to live up to his target of qualifying for the Champions League.
If the Italian is to deliver, he plans on reinforcing the Toffees first-team with the acquisition of two of his former prized assets in Koulibaly and Zielinski, though both would likely prove difficult for Director of Football Marcel Brands to purchase.
Despite Koulibaly’s performances decreasing this season after links to Manchester United in the summer, Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has no intentions of lowering his €100million (£85.3m) asking price for the centre-back.
Napoli are also currently negotiating a new contract with Zielinski, and talks between the club and midfielder are expected to be finalised soon after the Naples outfit made clear to the Poland international that he would be one of the pillars of the side going forward under Gennaro Gattuso.
Koulibaly, 28, has started 13 of his 14 Serie A appearances thus far this term, in which he has averaged 2.9 successful tackles from 3.6 attempts per 90 minutes, plus 1.3 interceptions, 3.1 clearances, committed 1.5 fouls, won 2.6 of his 4.1 aerial duels and made 1.1 blocks, per WhoScored data.
Would you back an £85m move for Koulibaly next summer?
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As for Zielinski, the £36m-rated 25-year-old has won 1.1 of his 1.8 tackles per 90 minutes over his 17 Italian top-flight outings, along with 1.1 blocks, 0.5 on targets shots from 2.5 efforts, beaten opposing players with 1.0 of his 2.2 dribbles and played 1.4 key balls from 65 passes.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the reports linking Ancelotti with a raid on Napoli for Koulibaly and Zielinski…
We’re not getting anywhere near Koulibaly unless we get Champions league and that ain’t happening!!
— Ben Higgs (@benhiggs83) December 22, 2019
The revolution has begun … 💙⚽️
— scott bartoncaldwell (@scozzabc) December 22, 2019
Me looking but trying to not get too excited. pic.twitter.com/wuj959SHhJ
— Adam Partington (@PartAdam) December 22, 2019
Pretty please
— Petetheblue1878 (@PeterWoolley7) December 22, 2019
People doubting this rumour r probably the same people who said we’ve no chance ov getting anceloti
— ste shirley (@bet0132) December 22, 2019
Better teams than us going after that Koulibaly, boss defender. Desperate need of another one though aren’t we 😂
— Adam Styler (@AdamStyler) December 23, 2019
Doubt it but imagine
— Greg McGiff (@gregmcgiff) December 22, 2019
Could see Zielinski but no way Koulibaly goes from being linked to city and chelsea to us
— 𝔐𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔦𝔢 (@ftblmattie) December 22, 2019
In other Everton news, a £10.8m-rated first-team regular has been put forward as Ancelotti’s potential first sale.