Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi could become team mates with Senegalese international Kalidou Koulibaly at Everton after Rafa Benitez told the club’s hierarchy to reunite him with the Napoli centre-back this summer.
It was Benitez who signed Koulibaly for Napoli in 2014 and the pair worked together for one season before the Spaniard moved to Real Madrid.
Benitez is understood to have some concerns about Everton’s current crop of centre-backs. Colombian Yerry Mina has been linked with an exit this summer and Benitez wants to ensure he is replaced, and Koulibaly is his preferred option.
Koulibaly, 30, is no longer seen as untouchable at Napoli, who were prepared to demand close to £100m to sell him just a few years ago.
Now, the Italian side are open to selling and are expected to listen to offers of around £35m, claims 90 min.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is a notoriously tough negotiator and is not likely to drop from that price tag, particularly given manager Luciano Spalletti is open to keeping the centre-back around.
However, the Toffees have already freed up some space in their salary budget by allowing Joshua King, Theo Walcott, Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic to leave on free transfers this summer, as Koulibaly will demand a sizeable wage from his next side.
