Manchester United agreed Kalidou Koulibaly’s £64m transfer deal

Manchester United had been searching for a centre-back to reinforce their back-line and the Senegalese international is all but set to switch to Old Trafford

Manchester United agreed Kalidou Koulibaly's £64m transfer deal

Manchester United have clinched another transfer deal as they reportedly signed Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly in a deal worth more than £60m.

Time and again, Manchester United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær mentioned in this week that he did not see much happening during transfer window. But he was able to stage a coup, when United recruited Bruno Fernandez and again Koulibaly signing. 

Koulibaly has also been linked with top clubs like Tottenham and Arsenal along with Manchester United interest, but according to reports in Italy, United have moved swiftly and grabbed the star players before Premier League rivals. 

The 28-year-old is not expected to join until the summer. Still, his presence would give United a massive boost at the back, with the Senegalese international one of the most sought-after defenders in European football.

Italian journalist Fabio Santini broke the news, and speaking on the TV show Il Processo he said: “Napoli will sell Kalidou Koulibaly to Manchester United for a figure of around 70-75m euros. It seems all done. “Naturally, such a deal will be closed only in June and certainly not in January in the winter transfer window.”

The signing would be the second time United have shelled out big money on a centre-back within a year, with Harry Maguire joining from Leicester City for £80m last summer. 

The capture of Koulibaly is sure to be hugely popular deal with United fans, who have been crying out for another world-class centre-back to join Maguire and help Manchester United defence.

Koulibaly has been at Napoli since signing from Genk in 2014 and immediately established himself as an ever-present in the team, impressing in both Serie A and the Champions League for the Italian club.

He insisted last year that he was happy in Naples, however, and took to Twitterto say: “My children were born here. Here, I grew up as a man and as a football player. Here, my children and I feel at home.”  

But South Italian club are said to be struggling financially, which may explain why they are willing to let their star player leave.