Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Kalidou Koulibaly and Alvaro Morata Rumours

Everton will reportedly emerge as shock rivals to Chelsea in their pursuit of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

According to Calciomercato (h/t Football Italia), the Toffees are ready to bid a whopping €45 million (£38.4 million) in an attempt to bring the defender to Goodison Park. Matt Law of the Telegraph reported earlier in the week that Koulibaly is the top defensive target for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

However, according to the report, “The Toffees have organised a meeting with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis for next week.”

Here is a look at why the 25-year-old could command such a significant transfer fee:

The centre-back positions are surely an area Chelsea will look at. While John Terry signing on for another year will be a big boost for the Stamford Bridge crowd, there are question marks over how much football he can play. Elsewhere, there are doubts over whether Gary Cahill is good enough, while Kurt Zouma still has a lot to learn at the top level.

Koulibaly could come in and make a major difference. The Napoli man has made steady improvements during his time with the Partenopei and was one of the standout centre-backs in Serie A last term.

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While his most notable qualities are his ferocious tackling and brute physicality, there’s a composure to the Senegal international, too. As WhoScored.com noted, he’s a very capable distributor:

Everton, bankrolled by major shareholder Farhad Moshiri, have the finances to lure a player like Koulibaly to the club this summer, and he could be tempted by the prospect of regular first-team football in a side that are seeking to make progress in the Premier League.

Still, the chance to work under Conte would be tempting for the player. The Italian has shown his quality as a manager both in Serie A and on the international stage, and now he’ll be seeking to build a team capable of bringing major honours to Stamford Bridge. It’s something Koulibaly would surely love to be a part of given the chance.

Alvaro Morata Blow

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According Simon Jones of the Mail on Sunday, Chelsea will have to part with a staggering £64 million if they want to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.

It’s stated in the piece the Blues have already had an offer rejected for the striker, with Madrid keen on making a significant profit on the player they bought back from Juventus for £26 million this summer.

Elsewhere, it’s been reported by Ruben Jimenez of Marca (translated by Jeffrey Boxer) that Los Blancos want to keep the Spain international.

“With Chelsea, Arsenal and a number of other clubs hovering, Real Madrid initially valued Morata at €75 million (£64 million), but instead, the Madrid native will challenge Karim Benzema for playing time at the top of Los Blancos' vaunted attack,” noted Jimenez.

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Morata returns to the Santiago Bernabeu as a much-improved player having spent two years at Juventus. Here is a look at the kind of quality he would bring to Stamford Bridge if Chelsea could get a deal done:

However, hopes of a transfer seem to be fading, regardless of whether Madrid have slapped a £64 million asking price on the player or they’ve decided not to move Morata on.

Indeed, Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren feels as though neither Chelsea nor Real are the best option for the 23-year-old:

Under Conte, Morata would thrive. The intensity and energy with which he leads the line is a hallmark of the way the Italian wants his teams to play, and it’s easy to see the forward making significant progress under his watch. However, for a player who isn’t a prolific goalscorer, the amounts mentioned would represent a major gamble.

From a Madrid perspective, having Morata compete for a spot in the forward line would be ideal for manager Zinedine Zidane. Still, after his development with the Bianconeri, it’d be a shame to see the Spain man fulfil a peripheral position in the Los Blancos squad.