Chelsea hopeful of Kalidou Koulibaly signing

Premier League leaders Chelsea could get their hands on Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly if the Serie A club find a suitable replacement.

The Senegal international had been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer before the player decided to stay put in Naples for the season.

Blues boss Antonio Conte eventually decided to re-sign David Luiz to fulfil his central defensive need, and the Brazil international has done wonders on his second coming to west London.

According to The London Evening Standard, the Blues will be offered the chance to sign the centre-back this time around with Napoli seemingly open to cashing in on his services.

However, the move could still be delayed for a while with Napoli willing to recruit a successor first before making a huge profit on Koulibaly.

Koulibaly, who joined Napoli from Genk for £6.5m in the summer of 2014, is also being monitored by Everton, who have top-four ambitions under Ronald Koeman next season.