Chelsea Transfer News: Kalidou Koulibaly Bid Reported, Latest Blues Rumours

Chelsea have reportedly offered Napoli £53 million to sign defender Kalidou Koulibaly this summer after failing with their first attempt to recruit the centre-back last year. 

The Blues failed with a series of bids to lure the Senegal international in 2016, but Italian website TuttoMercatoWeb reported the Premier League champions have come back with a renewed bid this summer (h/t the Daily Telegraph).

Napoli didn't want to lose Koulibaly last summer and "are ready to play hardball" over his signature once again, although the player's agent, Bruno Satin, is quoted as telling MondoNapoli: "Koulibaly? The transfer market is long as it will be open until August 31, something might happen before then. Chelsea? They are a world-class team that many players would like to join, but I don't want to talk about this now."

Napoli appeared unwilling to negotiate regarding Koulibaly when Chelsea made their approach last summer, and GianlucaDiMarzio.com's David Amoyal recently explained why that may be the case again this time around:

Manager Antonio Conte moved to re-sign David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain in the end, which proved a masterstroke, as the Brazil international played a key role in Chelsea's three-man defence.

Another new central figure is needed at the back in light of captain John Terry's impending departure from the club once his contract expires on June 30, but Koulibaly may not be attainable, per sports lawyer Jake Cohen:

Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill were the other key figures in Chelsea's defensive line last term, and Andreas Christensen is set to return to west London after two years on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Dane's loan spell in Germany was fruitful and could earn him a place in Conte's plans, although Cahill isn't losing sleep over the potential threat of his competition just yet:

Napoli finished the 2016-17 Serie A campaign in third, five points off champions Juventus but boasting the most prolific attack in the league, with 94 goals, although they leaked more than both the Bianconeri and runners-up AS Roma.

That being said, Koulibaly has always stood out as something of a gem in their back line, and BT Sport commentator Adam Summerton heaped praise upon him for the improvements he showed last term:

One factor worth taking into account in Chelsea's pursuit of Koulibaly is the fact his prominence in the Senegal national team will likely mean Africa Cup of Nations commitments that result in winter absences every two years.

Judging by the size of the reported offer, Chelsea are willing to bite that bullet if it means recruiting one of Serie A's most highly rated defenders, although Napoli's reluctance to sell may mean the Premier League champions are forced to look elsewhere.