Napoli have turned down a €103m (£91m) offer from Manchester United for defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports in Italy.
The Red Devils are looking to strengthen their defence in the January transfer window with the Senegalese international reportedly top of their shortlist of targets.
However, the Serie A side are playing hardball in negotiations with many United fans on Twitter perplexed as to why the offer was rejected:
Overpriced imo. He is an excellent player though. No player is near that price realistically in modern football.
— Eddie Morra (@GMul31) 1 December 2018
103m???? pic.twitter.com/oQdG1a54Md
— Ayush Sharma (@ayush1931994) 1 December 2018
We all know what will happen in January. Woodward won't spend that money for a centre back. Let's go United Fan we have to look Axel Tuanzebe or keep seeing Smalling or Jones for years.
— MUHAMMAD AFIF RIFIAL (@1PROUDtoBE39) 1 December 2018
Just offer the 115m @ManUtd
— like limitً (@ftbltheo) 1 December 2018
If they didnt back him before the season why now. And looks like the cost for a center half will be way more than at the start of the season
— biggs (@biggs_14) 1 December 2018
Will get rejected they will united what they want we will say no and end up signing some young lad no1 has heard of who won’t get played
— Daniel Gregory (@DanielG23145034) 1 December 2018
Get this done
— Prasit Banerjee (@PrasitBanerjee) 1 December 2018
Not my money so come on get him he was class last year
— Yacine (@dzNoah2012) 1 December 2018
Why “bid” for a guy who’s gonna turn 29 in 2 years time ??♂️
— Shezzy H (@Shezzy_10) 1 December 2018
The inflated transfer market has made it extremely difficult for buying clubs to bring in players at sensible prices, and while a world record fee for a defender in Koulibaly’s case can be justified, the amounts being quoted are extremely high.
With clubs knowing that United have money to spend, and the fact that there are only a certain number of top-drawer centre-backs on the market, it makes it an extremely difficult environment to sign players.
Whether Napoli will eventually relent and sell Koulibaly, it remains to be seen. It is more likely that Jose Mourinho’s side will move onto other targets instead.
