Barcelona face competition from PSG for 31-year-old centre-back

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for Napoli and Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly this summer. The 31-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Serie A side and an extension is nowhere in sight.

It has made the defender an enticing target for Barça, who are in the market for defensive reinforcements. However, as per Italian publication TuttoMercatoWeb, Barcelona will face competition from PSG in their pursuit of Koulibaly.

The Senegalese international has established himself as one of the most solid and reliable centre-backs in Europe. Having spent eight years in Italy, he looks primed to move on this summer, although the possibility of an extended stay in Naples is not completely ruled out.

Napoli, for their part, are open to selling Koulibaly for the right price to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing in 2023. A valuation of €40 million has been mentioned in the tabloids.

Barcelona have set their sights on a new defender, despite being on the cusp of announcing the arrival of Andreas Christensen.

With Xavi Hernandez set to bid goodbye to Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza, there will be a need for more than one centre-back to arrive this summer, especially with Gerard Pique likely to be forced into a reduced role.

Jules Kounde has been the priority for the club, but a move has been complicated due to Sevilla’s demands and competition from other clubs. Koulibaly, to that end, is seen as a more cost-effective alternative.

However, PSG’s entry into the equation could make things tricky for the Blaugrana. The Parisian giants could lose Presnel Kimpembe this year and given Sergio Ramos’ injury problems, signing a new centre-back has become a priority.

The report states that both Barcelona and PSG are in constant contact with Napoli to understand what it might take for them to sign Koulibaly. An exit seems a strong possibility for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations winner, but where he ends up this summer remains to be seen.