Everton: Rafa Benitez weighing on two centre back options worth £60 million

Rafa Benitez intends to make Kalidou Koulibaly as his first Everton signing

Another report mentions about Everton’s desire to sign Koulibaly. This is not the first time the Royal Blues have been linked with the Napoli defender. According to the Express, Benitez aims to make Koulibaly as his first Everton signing. The duo worked together at Napoli and now Benitez aims to reunite with the Senegalese at Goodison Park.

Napoli would be punching themselves in the gut for being too stubborn about Koulibaly’s value last season. Manchester City were ready to offer €60 million for the 30 year old but Aurelio de Laurentiis refused to budge from his €80 million valuation.

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One year later, Koulibaly’s value has fallen dramatically as Napoli are now ready to let their asset go for as low as £35 million in a bid to lower the losses and improve the club’s financial situation. Serie A clubs have been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic which could spur even some of the biggest clubs in Italy to offload their top players. Sadly, Napoli is not an exception.

Among the two linked central defenders, Koulibaly is much more experienced, famed and adept. Lenglet is four years younger but has been far too inconsistent and unimpressive last season. Koulibaly is available for £35 million whereas Lenglet’s market value is £22.5 million (Transfermarkt).

Everton won’t be signing two centre backs so we’ll have to see how both these stories develop in the upcoming weeks.

Which centre back would you prefer – Clement Lenglet or Rafa Benitez?