Manchester City are considering alternatives to Kalidou Koulibaly because of Napoli’s valuation of about €80m (£73.2m) for the centre-back, with Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and Atlético Madrid’s José Giménez on the radar.
City’s valuation of a player who will be 30 next summer is some way short of Napoli’s, reflected in their refusal to pay £80m to Leicester for the then 26-year-old Harry Maguire last summer.
Pep Guardiola is an admirer of Giménez, 25, and the 27-year-old Carlos, the former having a £109.8m release clause and the latter one of £68.7m. If Napoli are not prepared to lower their demand for Koulibaly, City may try to buy Carlos or Giménez with a bid markedly less than the respective clauses.
Guardiola has strengthened his squad with Nathan Aké, a centre-back from Bournemouth, and Valencia’s Ferran Torres, a wide forward.
