Everton to outbid Chelsea for Kalidou Koulibaly?

Everton are prepared to lodge an offer of their own for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegal international is expected to seek a fresh challenge this summer after his side refused to offer him an improved contract.

The Toffees are set to offer stiff competition to Chelsea, who are currently in advanced negotiations to land the centre-back.

According to Italian publication Calciomercato, manager Ronald Koeman has been given the green light to pursue the 25-year-old with owner Farhad Moshiri willing to spend big in the current transfer window.

It is added that the club's officials will meet up with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis this week to finalize a £38.5m transfer for the French-born footballer.

Antonio Conte's Chelsea have so far been reluctant to offer more than £33m for the player, and this has kept the transfer proceedings at bay.

Koulibaly appeared in 42 games for the Naples outfit last term.