KEY POINTS

  • Manchester United has struggled to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho
  • An option they can consider is Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly
  • Koulibaly has served as an elite defender and can be an asset for any squad

The road to signing Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sanchez has been a tough one for Manchester United.

With reports speculating that Sancho will not leave his club, the Red Devils may opt to sign another elite star in the form of Napoli’s Kalidou Kouliably.

With an estimated price of 56 million Euros, Koulibaly can be the missing piece in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s lineup in terms of defensive capabilities. Enhancing the team’s roster is crucial at this stretch and the organization can’t spend all its resources chasing the uncertainty of a star like Sancho. Having Koulibaly can benefit the club well as an alternative signing, per Fansided’s Red Devil Armada.

Throughout Koulibaly’s career, he has already proven he is a worthy competitor among the world’s best players. The defender from Senegal possesses the skills to make his presence felt every time he steps foot on the pitch. The 29-year-old has been with Napoli since 2014 and has shown his significant impact for his club.

During his stint with the Italian-based club, he has proven to be one of the elite players in tackling and marking. The way he reads the opponent’s offense is world-class and can serve as an asset for any team. Couple these traits with tremendous speed, strength and stamina make for an all-around player. In 246 appearances with Napoli, he has also managed to score on 10 separate occasions and tally five assists.

Having someone like Koulibaly as a defensive anchor can complement the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. Add this to the maturing talent of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford and the club can improve even further as an all-around team. Pairing Koulibaly’s athleticism with the developing lineup improves the depth Solskjaer can work in the near future.

With this, it will be interesting to see how Manchester United and Napoli will move forward regarding their rosters. The potential of Koulibaly is high and he’s shown how much he has developed in his career as a center back. It remains to be seen if the Old Trafford-based team is willing to shell out the resources while maintaining their position in signing Sancho.

Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli
Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli Getty Images | Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images