Manchester City are refusing to up their bid for Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports in the Italian media.
It is believed that the Citizens are only prepared to pay €65m (£59m) for the 29-year-old but Napoli won’t sell up for anything less than €75m (£68m) to €80m (£72m).
Koulibaly, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United this summer, is believed to be City’s top target to reinforce the centre of defence, and fans on Twitter are calling on the club to get the deal over the line:
Pay. The. Money.
— Lewis Heatley (@Lewis_Heatley) July 28, 2020
Stop being tight and pay the money…. or offer otamendi + cash
— Jordan Smith (@Jord_Smithhh) July 28, 2020
Cough up the rest of the money are we serious
— Kurtis (@peezcranks90s) July 28, 2020
Ffs come on City pay the fee
— Harry – Ferran For City (@HarryCooke891) July 28, 2020
?come on
— BLV (@buckslevito) July 29, 2020
Koulibaly and Dias/Diego Carlos please.
— Michael✴️ (@FerranTorresSZN) July 28, 2020
If we mess this deal up I’m txiki our
— Mackenzie (@KillerKun172) July 28, 2020
Utd will be along soon offering 80m and 500k a week.
— Tonksy (@paulftonks15) July 28, 2020
Cmon 10 mil
— pizziman? (@Tjmcfc14) July 28, 2020
City are likely to be mindful of Koulibaly’s age, as well as the fact that transfer prices have been hit by the financial impact of the global health crisis.
However, Napoli know they are dealing with a club who can afford to spend big, and it looks as though a game of poker is being played out. We shall have to wait and see who blinks first.