Barcelona looking to sign Napoli defender Koulibaly
It cannot be denied that though Barcelona's attack has been meticulous and consistent this season, they are really suffering from lack of a strong defensive line-up. The same has snatched away some victories from them, this term. To put an end to their woes, Blaugrana are reportedly signing Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, who would be a major addition to their squad. Here are further details.
How have Barcelona been performing this season?
Barcelona are currently third on the table with 17 points, and Alaves are topping the chart with 19 points, having played one extra match. Barcelona's predilections have stemmed from their defensive frailties, having drawn three matches against Bilbao, Valencia, and Girona- fixtures they should have won. Barca's Champions League start has been positive, winning comfortably against Tottenham (4-2) and Eindhoven (4-0).
Will Koulibaly be effective for Barcelona? Let's take a look
Koulibaly is physically strong and has an imposing figure of 6' 5'', who can win aerial duels for Barcelona. Interestingly, Barca do not have many tall figures in their squad. His positioning, vital for Barca's game, had also massively improved under former coach Maurizio Sarri.
Barcelona facing grave defensive issues at the moment
With Umtiti and Vermaelen out with injuries, Barcelona do not have a reliable center-back to hold the defense together. It cannot be denied that Gerard Pique is far past his prime and is not performing even remotely close to the standard, we have come to expect from him. If Koulibaly is added, Barcelona will get a huge push to aim for the top prizes.
How much can Napoli ask for Koulibaly?
According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sky Sports), Napoli can ask for £88 million from Barcelona for their star defender. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is currently the costliest defender (£75 million) but might lose his position to Koulibaly if the transfer follows through.
