Chelsea fear Napoli will price them out of a deal for Kalidou Koulibaly.

The London Evening Standard says Chelsea fear they will have to pay in excess of £50million to sign Koulibaly from Napoli – and smash the British transfer record for a defender.

Even though Koulibaly's main suitors, Chelsea and Everton, hope Napoli will lower their valuation for the centre-back, Napoli's official line is that they will not accept anything less than €60m.

He is currently involved in a contractual stand-off with the Serie A club, who will play in the Champions League in the forthcoming season.

Koulibaly earns a relatively modest £26,000 a week at Napoli and, with Chelsea and Everton circling, he has asked for the same contract as captain and top earner Marek Hamsik, who collects about £98,000 a week.