Chelsea Close In On Deal For Kalidou Koulibaly After Napoli Accept €40 Million Bid

Chelsea are on the verge of signing Kalidou Koulibaly after Napoli accepted a €40 million bid from the Blues, according to reports.

The 31-year-old is set to join Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge after talks progressed quickly between the two clubs, which has seen Thomas Tuchel's side have a bid accepted.

As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, a bid of €40 million has been agreed between the two clubs, including add-ons.

Koulibaly will sign a long-term contract in west London, bolstering the defence following the exits of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger last month.

The Senegal international will fly to London on Wednesday evening before undergoing a medical on Thursday ahead of his transfer being made official.

Koulibaly, once signed, will then head to the United States to join up with his new Chelsea teammates who are currently touring America ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Koulibaly is likely to be joined by Nathan Ake as talks with Man City progress over a £45 million transfer this summer.

Chelsea are pushing to seal a transfer for the Dutchman by next week in the hope he can play some part of the US tour.

Koulibaly will join his former Napoli teammate Jorginho in the English capital, as well as his countryman Edouard Mendy, who hinted at new defensive arrivals earlier this week.

He said while in Los Angeles during their training camp: "We were happy with Toni, with Christensen, but I think we are more than happy with the defenders who will arrive for us."

Thomas Tuchel needed a defensive rebuild and despite being on the verge of signing both Ake and Koulibaly, Chelsea are still eyeing another defensive addition.

Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano are all among the options being considered, with Matthijs de Ligt preferring a move to Bayern Munich this summer.

Koulibaly is set to sign a five-year contract in west London, worth around £175,000-a-week, ending the policy of Chelsea handed over 30-year-old's one-year extension.

Chelsea have moved quickly to land the central defender from Naples, a sign of the planning and what's to come under the new ownership that is being led by chairman and interim sporting director Todd Boehly.

Now it's a case of getting the first few arrivals announced before the work can be done by Tuchel on the pitch to build and shape his squad ready for the opening day of the season on 6 August against Everton.

A big summer awaits the Blues.