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​Chelsea bid £58m for Napoli defender Koulibaly

Napoli rejected a Chelsea offer of £58m for Kalidou Koulibaly at the end of the summer transfer window, according to their chairman.

"They offered to me £30, 35, 40, 45, 50 [million]," De Laurentiis told Sky Sports News HQ.

"Mr. Conte I said, '[The] marina is behind me, follow me', I offered him that. Last moment, two days before the closing of the market, I hear £58 [million] - something like that."

Koulibaly eventually signed a new contract with Napoli that ties him to the Serie A club until 2021 but, according to De Laurentiis, that does not guarantee he will not be sold.

"Koulibaly I need here to make the match," De Laurentiis said. "I need to play, so I need the players. Koulibaly, this year, will remain here. Next year we will speak about."

Asked to confirm if Chelsea made a £58m offer, De Laurentiis said: "Yes. He will never say it is true because I know Antonio. Ciao Antonio."

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Ian Ferris
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