Despite widespread speculation that Liverpool FC won’t make any major summer signings, it is reported that the Reds are set to open negotiations with Napoli over Kalidou Koulibaly. The Merseyside club have been linked with the Senegalese center-back for a long period of time.
However, Liverpool FC have offered Dejan Lovren to the Italian side as a part of the Koulibaly transfer negotiation. It is believed that the Reds are hopeful that by including Lovren in the deal, Napoli would reduce their asking price for their star defender. The Serie A side have put a price-tag of £90 million on Koulibaly’s head.
A sum worth £90 million would be a record-breaking amount paid for a defender in history. It will break the earlier record set by Manchester United FC’s purchase of Harry Maguire last summer, whose fee amounted to £80 million. Moreover, the Reds would be reluctant to pay such a hefty sum despite their desire of signing Koulibaly.
Lovren has fallen behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip in the center-back pecking order for Jurgen Klopp’s side. The Croatian international has only made ten Premier League appearances this season in the Reds shirt. The 30-year old center-back would be open to a move to Napoli in the summer with the hope of greater first team opportunities.
The defender had been close to departing Liverpool FC last summer. However, upon the insistence of the Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, Lovren chose to extend his stay at Anfield. The player has mostly appeared in domestic cup ties for the Reds throughout the 2019-20 season.
Signing Koulibaly has become a priority for Klopp in recent weeks. Pairing the colossal Napoli defender alongside Van Dijk as the two Liverpool FC center-backs would result in a formidable partnership. The Reds would be optimistic about their chances of defending their Premier League title next season.
Besides Liverpool FC, other Premier League sides have also declared interest in signing Koulibaly. Reports had suggested that Napoli had rejected initial bids from Manchester City FC as well as Manchester United FC.
