Newcastle’s prospective new owners want to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly if their takeover of the Magpies is cleared by the Premier League.
Mike Ashley has agreed to end his 13-year association with Newcastle for £300million, with a consortium backed by Mohammed Bin Salman – the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – awaiting the green light to take control.
Reports have hinted at the scale of a potential Newcastle overhaul, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino mooted as the man the consortium want to take the reigns in the dugout.
According to Sky Sports News, Newcastle’s ambition on the pitch has meant that Koulibaly – one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe for the past three years – has become a visible target.
The source claims that the Senegal international, who is a long-term target of Manchester United and has previously been linked with Liverpool, is likely to leave Naples this summer.
The 28-year-old is reportedly valued at €80million (£69.8million) and despite his contract running out in 2023, Napoli could look to sell him sooner rather than later to avoid cashing in after his value has dropped.
Indeed, Sky Sports News adds that Koulibaly could be interested in moving to St James’ Park if the takeover is completed.
Previous reports have indicated that Napoli, who have €145million in the bank, can afford to demand the full price for their top players, one of whom is striker Arkadiusz Milik.
Spurs have been linked with Poland international Milik for a number of weeks.
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Jonny Whitfield
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