Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has once again commented on the future of Kalidou Koulibaly, this time confirming that the defender will be sold if the transfer market allows.
Koulibaly is Manchester City's top transfer target this summer as the club looks to drastically improve their defensive options, having already signed Bournemouth's Nathan Ake.
City saw their dominance of the Premier League slip last season and their frailties at the back were a major factor in losing the title to Liverpool.
The Blues were already short on numbers following the failure to replace departed icon Vincent Kompany and the problem only got worse when Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi suffered injuries at varying points in the campaign.
City are in no rush to sign the Senegal international, though, and are waiting for Napoli's to lower their transfer fee demands before making a move.
However, De Laurentiis has previously stated that Koulibaly will only be sold if club's pay the Serie A side's asking price. In his latest statement the president has admitted that the 29-year-old is set to leave the club, but his departure depends on the market.
“Koulibaly and Milik are both on their way out, transfer market permitting,” De Laurentiis told Canale 21, via FootballItalia.
“So, if the transfer market allows us to sell these two excellent players, we will know how to replace them. If not, then we’ll discuss it again next year.”
It's believed that the Naples club had lined up Gabriel Magalhaes as their replacement for Koulibaly but the Brazilian instead opted to join Arsenal.
Koulibaly, meanwhile, played in a friendly for the Napoli reserves at the weekend, which has further suggested that a move could soon be on the cards.
