Manchester United were ready to make €35 million transfer offer

Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leaves after the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on April 25, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Manchester United enjoyed quite a spectacular summer transfer window. Apart from signing Tom Heaton on a free transfer, they brought in Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo as well. In terms of building a team that can challenge for the Premier League, it was one of the club’s best summer transfer windows over the last decade, if not the very best.

After signing Heaton and Sancho, Manchester United appeared to have their eyes set on signing a world-class centre-back. As a result, several names were linked with a summer move to Old Trafford.

Of course, all those rumours must not have been true but surely, the club had more than one transfer target on their shortlist.

One player that they have been linked with on-and-off over the years is Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. And it looks like they were ready to make an offer for the defender. While speaking on “Ne parliamo il martedì” on Canale 8 and as reported by Napoli Magazine, journalist Antonio Giordano said:

"“De Laurentiis had the strength to refuse all the offers that arrived for the big names, in particular for Koulibaly. Manchester United were ready to offer 35 million euros, but the patron made it known that Kalidou would not have moved for that amount.”"

Manchester United were ready to make an offer for Koulibaly

Manchester United are believed to have had Koulibaly on their transfer radar for a long time. Fast, aerially dominant and physically strong, the 30-year-old is one of the most highly-rated defenders in world football today.

Since joining Napoli, the Senegal international defender has made 287 appearances across all competitions for the Italian giants, according to stats from Transfermarkt.

Some rumours had suggested that Napoli could be open to letting Koulibaly leave in the summer but a move did not transpire.

Over the years, he has been linked with several clubs around Europe but for one reason or another, a Napoli exit has never happened. Now 30 years of age, a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs might no longer be on the table.

On the other hand, Manchester United must have been delighted with the centre-back signing that they pulled off, having managed to bring in Varane from Real Madrid this summer.

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