Man Utd step up pursuit of Koulibaly after ahead of Liverpool’s transfer interest

Manchester United will reportedly reignite their interest in Kalidou Koulibaly this summer after learning Liverpool are monitoring the Napoli defender.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is understood to rate the center-back, 28, highly, and was tipped to sign the Senegal international after he was named in the Serie A Team of the Season at the end of the last term.

Nothing ever materialised, with Solskjaer opting to fork out £80million for Harry Maguire instead.

Gazetta dello Sport, per Daily Express, reports that United made an £89m bid for Koulibaly last summer – but he could be available for a significantly cheaper price at the end of this season.

Koulibaly is understood to now be worth around £62m but United may have to go up against their rivals, who will want a new centre-back to replace the outgoing Dejan Lovren.

The coronavirus crisis and Koulibaly’s slight dip in form this season are thought to be key factors in the fall of his transfer value.

Koulibaly is still one of the highest-rated center-backs in Europe

Before COVID-19 brought football to a halt, United were in good form having not tasted defeat in their past eleven matches.

Maguire was made club captain at Old Trafford following Ashley Young’s departure in January.

The former Leicester man has established a decent partnership with Victor Lindelof but Koulibaly would be likely to break up that duo if he signed.

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United also have the likes of Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as options at centre-back too. Smalling, however, may look for a move away from Old Trafford having done well on loan at Roma this season.