Chelsea and Everton are currently engaged in a battle to sign Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Serie A club Napoli, but the Italians are not willing to part with their star defender for less than €60 million (£51.6 million).
The physical defender is a target for the two English Premier League teams, but if either of the two offered what the Partenopei are asking, it would be a new UK transfer record for a defender, with Manchester City spending £42 million for French defender Eliaquim Mangala in 2014.
Koulibaly wants to remain at the Stadio San Paolo, but has demanded the same pay as captain Marek Hamsik, which is £98,000 per week. He currently earns £26,000 each week, but Napoli are only willing to raise his wages to £52,000 per week.
New Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has prioritised the capture of a central defender in this transfer season, with Koulibaly fitting the bill perfectly, but new Everton manager Ronald Koeman is likely to weigh in on the transfer saga with some of the club’s transfer budget.
The 25-year-old Senegal defender was a standout performer in Napoli’s second-place finish in Serie A during the 2015-16 campaign, and will soon need to make a decision on his future.