Manchester United are determined to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly even if they have to wait until the summer, claims the London Evening Standard.
The Premier League giants have made signing a world class centre-back their top priority in the transfer window and Koulibaly remains their first choice target despite Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.
United have already had two bids for Koulibaly rejected this season and accept prising the 27-year-old away from Napoli midway through the season will be difficult.
Napoli are desperate to agree a new contract with the Senegal international, who has established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe in recent seasons.
However, Koulibaly was allegedly subject to racial abuse from Inter supporters during Napoli’s 1-0 defeat at the end of last month and that could work in United’s favour.
Even if United fail to sign Koulibaly this month, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are reportedly determined to land the defender at the end of the season, though there are still no guarentees of that.
Napoli will demand similar money to the £75m Liverpool shelled out for Virgil van Dijk 12 months ago and United are the only Premier League side that would likely be capable of coming up with the money required.
Since the start of last season, only three players have won possession in the defensive third more times than Koulibaly in Serie A (200).
