Where Kalidou Koulibaly will fit in Chelsea’s wage structure as salary for £35m defender is revealed ahead of transfer

KALIDOU KOULIBALY is on the verge of joining Chelsea in a deal worth around £35million. The defender is set to sign for Thomas Tuchel’s side after eight years at Napoli. Koulibaly, 31, will be Chelsea’s first defensive acquisition since the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the […]

KALIDOU KOULIBALY is on the verge of joining Chelsea in a deal worth around £35million.

The defender is set to sign for Thomas Tuchel’s side after eight years at Napoli.

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Kalidou Koulibaly is close to joining Chelsea[/caption]

Koulibaly, 31, will be Chelsea’s first defensive acquisition since the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Senegalese star will pen a contract worth £162,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.

This will make him Chelsea’s fifth highest paid player.

Following Romelu Lukaku’s exit, Kai Havertz is the Blues’ top earner on a £310,000-a-week contract.

N’Golo Kante, linked with Arsenal, is in the final year of his £290,000-a-week deal.

German flop Timo Werner pockets £270k a week, while Ben Chilwell is their highest paid defender on £190k.

As quoted by Romain Collet-Gaudin, Koulibaly admitted on a potential move to Stamford Bridge: “I’ll confirm that later, but it’s on the right track.”

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has also hinted that Koulibaly could be on his way out.

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In a fan Q&A on Instagram, the Italian said: “I prefer Koulibaly to be with us always, especially as he would be captain this season.

“If he chooses to leave, we will never stop thanking him for all the help he has given us.

“If he wants to choose something else, we wish him all the best, because he deserves it.”

Nathan Ake has also been linked with a move back to Stamford Bridge worth at least £41m from Manchester City, having left Chelsea for Bournemouth in 2017.

The Blues are also on the verge of completing a £47.5m deal for Raheem Sterling, who is expected to be awarded a contract worth around £300k a week.