Maybe we will snaffle Alex Sandro, seems we were after him about the same time, lol

32 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

I dunno, if he was good he would have been bought ages ago instead of staying in Naples until 31. He also has been playing less in the last 3 years, injury prone or simply no longer first choice? Underwhelmed until I see him play I guess.

Issue was until this year when he's in the last year of his contract Napoli were demanding £70m+ for him.

It would be a very good signing especially after the farce of MDL and Kounde. And 5 year contract is not bad IMO. Expect him to be good till 35 and he can be a very capable backup at age 36 to a younger batch of CB's. Second string CB's cost a fortune nowadays and you always need experienced backup players. A good deal all round.

Assuming Tuchel and co did their due diligence in analysing Koulibaly's ability as a player + physicality and how long he has left at the top level. 

Looks like this is all but done. Very glad we decided to buy an experienced general for our defense. We need leaders abd Koulibaly looks the type. 

Now go for Rice and this window is beginning to look like a good one. 😃

Medical tomorrow apparently. I'm glad we have acted quickly on this one. Chelsea of old would have gone after De Ligt all summer, only to sign Tyrone Mings on deadline day. 

🔵 | Kalidou Koulibaly: 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎!

Chelsea have reached full agreement with Napoli to sign Kalidou Koulibaly, here we go! ⭐️

▫️ Final official bid worth €40m with add-ons included has been accepted, documents set to be signed.

▫️ Koulibaly will sign long term deal in the coming days, after medical tests to be completed soon.

▫️ Kalidou’s salary at Chelsea will be worth €10m net per season, proposal accepted yesterday night.

▫️ It’s not over for Chelsea as Nathan Aké remains a top target as centre back… and he’s not the only one.

How do you rate this deal for Chelsea? 🔵🇸🇳

Very good defender, we need defenders, what's not to like? Confused at some of the caution on here, 31 is not old.

he is what virgil van dijk thinks he is 

1 hour ago, sonic90 said:

I dunno, if he was good he would have been bought ages ago instead of staying in Naples until 31. He also has been playing less in the last 3 years, injury prone or simply no longer first choice? Underwhelmed until I see him play I guess.

Probably because Napoli's owner wanted 80m+ for the last few years and teams didn't want to go near for that price which they'd be right for.

He's top 5 in the world and a better defender than Rudiger. If you are underwhelmed about Koulibaly then I don't think you'd have been happy with any CB signing.

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, JMaher94 said:

Probably because Napoli's owner wanted 80m+ for the last few years and teams didn't want to go near for that price which they'd be right for.

He's top 5 in the world and a better defender than Rudiger. If you are underwhelmed about Koulibaly then I don't think you'd have been happy with any CB signing.

Instead teams were buying Maguire, Lucas Hernandez and de Ligt for similar prices when they were supposedly less highly rated. Still think if he was that coveted someone would have tried to sign him even for that much.

2 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

Instead teams were buying Maguire, Lucas Hernandez and de Ligt for similar prices when they were supposedly less highly rated. Still think if he was that coveted someone would have tried to sign him even for that much.

Tbf you don't want to have a deal with Napoli if you can

Exciting signing. Rudiger was amazing under Tuchel in a back 5, but jury was still out on him in a back 4.

I think this guy can match him in a back 5, and will be an improvement on him in a back 4. 

 

I also don't think there's much between Christensen and Ake, so with Sterling coming in as well as hopefully another goal scoring wide player, we're looking good for next season. 

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 20224 yr by Hessleboink

1 hour ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Maybe we will snaffle Alex Sandro, seems we were after him about the same time, lol

Don’t say his name, if you say it three times @TomCFC85 appears. 
 

K2 a mountain of a man, hopefully he can help us climb to the summit of the Premier League.

2 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

K2 a mountain of a man, hopefully he can help us climb to the summit of the Premier League.

It would be amazing to reach the summit again, however this team needs serious work to complete with the City and Pool machines over a league season.

Forward line does not offer enough creativity or goals, Sterling alone won't fix that, and the midfield lacks heavily in the middle both offensively and defensively.

Maybe if our back 4 was prime Ash, JT, Ricky and Paulo.

Matt Law saying we have agreed a £34m deal with Napoli now.

28 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

It would be amazing to reach the summit again, however this team needs serious work to complete with the City and Pool machines over a league season.

Forward line does not offer enough creativity or goals, Sterling alone won't fix that, and the midfield lacks heavily in the middle both offensively and defensively.

Maybe if our back 4 was prime Ash, JT, Ricky and Paulo.

I fear we need a prolific Goal scorer

We just need to sign Hulk now

So maybe this was the plan all along to entrap Bayern and Juve over MDL and sign KK at half the price from under Juve's nose. No doubt it complicates matters for Juve who had lined up KK as MDL's replacement. 

8 minutes ago, JM7 said:

We just need to sign Hulk now

And Modric too.

1 hour ago, drjonesy1994 said:

Medical tomorrow apparently. I'm glad we have acted quickly on this one. Chelsea of old would have gone after De Ligt all summer, only to sign Tyrone Mings on deadline day. 

Never say never!

Apparently Koulibaly deal is for 4 years, with a possible club option for a 5th. 

He is heading to the UK for his medical which will start tonight, Napoli have gone over the contracts and approved the deal, final signatures and exchange of money all that is left as long as medical is passed.