According to a report from Sportwitness, Kalidou Koulibaly is happy in Naples and doesn’t want to move this summer. Though he might have been a marquee defensive signing for Everton similar to what Virgil Van Dijk has been for Liverpool, there is more to this story that you need to know.
There has been a significant drop in form for the Senegalese international whose Tackles+Interceptions per 90 have fallen from last season’s 3.33 to 2.86 this season. His aerial Duels, something he is renowned for due to his tall physique, haven’t fared any better, in 2018-19 he won 2.21 aerial duels per 90 which reduced to 2.14 last season and has now dropped even further to 1.35 this season. Koulibaly’s pass completion rate has also dropped from 92.1% of last season to 89.8% this season. (stats via FBref)
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
These are still pretty good numbers but why invest so heavily in a player whose position has enough quality players at the club right now, especially when there are glaring problems that require immediate attention. The right-back and the right side in general needs remodelling which is why Everton remain linked to the likes of Max Aarons.
The defenders currently at Goodison are doing really well. Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey are all fighting to cement their place in the starting 11 with consistently good performances. The central defenders have done a really good job this season.
Reported Everton target Kalidou Koulibaly doesn’t want to leave Napoli
According to Transfermarkt his current market value is 50 million euros and has a contract till 2023 which means that Everton will have to pay around that region in order to acquire his services. We have seen what this pandemic has done to clubs financially and even the slightest error in the transfer market can cost the club millions.
He is 29 years old now which means that even if Everton were to sell him later on, they won’t be able to recoup the huge investment that they had made in him. Not just that, with the impending construction of the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium which is estimated to cost around 500 million pounds it is important that the Royal Blues do not indulge in unnecessary transfers which can cost the club in the long run.
Apparently his agent, Fali Ramadani hasn’t received any offer yet from Everton. The Toffees shouldn’t really bid for him also in the near future considering that this kind of money can be invested elsewhere on younger players, something which is crucial for the Toffees’ long term project.
Will Everton dodge a bullet by not signing Kalidou Koulibaly?