Kalidou Koulibaly’s transfer from Napoli to Manchester City has taken a backseat as the Premier League side look to accelerate their pursuit of Lionel Messi.
Koulibaly has been a long-standing target for several Premier League top clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
But, the Sky Blues moved ahead of the competition in the recent period after Pep Guardiola decided to step up his search for a top-class centre-back.
After capturing Nathan Ake from Bournemouth, Guardiola seemed to be on the brink of completing another defensive signing in the shape of the Senegalese star.
However, the news of Leo Messi’s imminent break-up with Barcelona has postponed all of Manchester City’s other activities, including their efforts to sign Koulibaly.
As per Italian publication Corriere Dello Sport, the Premier League heavyweights will channel their energy on snapping up one of the best players ever.
The two are, of course, not mutually exclusive, but Koulibaly’s move from Serie A to the Etihad should take a bit longer than expected.
Signing a player of Messi’s caliber would be a history-changing moment for the club, which is why Manchester City won’t hesitate to compromise their other deals.
Also, Napoli continue to play hardball on the 29-year-old’s price tag, as Aurelio De Laurentiis has no intention of stepping back from his initial £80million valuation.
Moreover, Paris Saint-Germain’s idea of making Koulibaly Thiago Silva’s long-term successor could throw a spanner in the works, especially if the Messi saga drags on.
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