Arsenal have reportedly made contact with Napoli in a bid to sign highly-rated defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Gunners have been poor at the back this campaign, and new boss Mikel Arteta is under pressure to strengthen his back-four in January.
Koulibaly was previously on Manchester United’s radar, prior to the Red Devils splashing the cash to sign England international Harry Maguire from Leicester City, and is valued at around £55million.
Arsenal do not have the funds to compete with the rest of the Big Six, and Mikel Arteta was warned by club chiefs that he wouldn’t have enough funds to make new signings next month.
But Napoli are keen on signing out-of-favour Arsenal full back Sead Kolasinac, and the north London side are hoping he can be used as a makeweight to land the defender.
Host Ian McGarry said on Reach PLC’s Transfer Window Podcast that: “I’ve heard, although can’t confirm, that Arsenal have also made contact with Napoli through a third-party regarding Koulibaly.
“This comes on the back of their desire under Mikel Arteta to strengthen their defence.
“And also that they’ve got some interest from Sead Kolasinac. So you could see the possibility of Kolasinac being offered to Napoli in part-exchange plus cash, although Di Laurentiis prefers cash for Koulibaly because he wants to strengthen his team up the Serie A table.”
Mikel Arteta makes his managerial debut on Boxing Day as Arsenal travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth.
The Gunners are currently floundering down in eleventh but a win over the Cherries could see them climb to as a high as seventh.
