Newcastle United are under Saudi rule now and their first huge signing could be Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, claim reports in England.
The club completed its takeover this week, with PIF representing the Saudi rulers buying out Mike Ashley in a deal believed to be worth £300m.
According to Football Insider and Sun Sport, one of the primary candidates for the January transfer window is Koulibaly.
It’s hardly the first time the Senegal international has been linked with a move to the Premier League, but Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City could never meet the asking price.
That used to be over €100m, but has dropped significantly over the last year to circa €60m.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis made it clear he was prepared to sell Koulibaly over the summer, but nobody was able to come up with a realistic transfer proposal.
Newcastle are also ready to fire coach Steve Bruce, with Antonio Conte and Ralf Rangnick among the potential candidates to replace him.
Newcastle want Kalidou Koulibaly as ‘marquee’ transfer signing https://t.co/jcbgSJxrv7
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) October 10, 2021
Another ridiculously rich club able to plunder Serie A. The future is not bright for Serie A
Ok, when the financial ‘powerhouses’ are in Paris, London, Madrid even Manchester. But Newcastle? Where is that even?