PSG Contact Agent Of $54M Defender Who Was Once Liverpool's Target: Report

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have reportedly contacted the agent of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

After it was earlier revealed that informal talks had begun between the two parties, the negotiations have now started over Koulibaly's potential move to PSG this summer, reported Italian publication Corriere dello Sport. PSG director Leonardo has spoken with Koulibaly's agent, Fali Ramadani, but an official bid is yet to be launched.

Koulibaly, who was once Liverpool FC's top target, is contracted with Napoli until 2023. He is expected to move away from the Italian club. Jurgen Klopp wanted to partner Koulibaly with his star center-back Virgil van Dijk. However, the Reds never managed to secure a deal and instead, they recently signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig after a tough 2020-21 campaign.

Apart from PSG, Premier League club Everton are also interested in signing Koulibaly this summer. Their new boss, Rafa Benitez, is keen for a reunion with the Senegal international, soccer website 90Min reported. Benitez managed the center-back at Napoli during his stint with the Ligue 1 side between 2013 and 2015.

Interestingly, it was Benitez who had signed Koulibaly at Napoli in the summer of 2014 from Belgian club Genk.

Signing Koulibaly will not be an easy task for Everton as they will now have to rival PSG, who are believed to have made the Senegal defender a top target. PSG have recently defeated several rival clubs in various signings in the underway summer market, including FC Barcelona, in the race to sign Liverpool's Gini Wijnaldum and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 30-year-old center-back won't come for cheap as his current market value is around $54 million, according to Transfermarkt.

PSG are believed to be bolstering their squad in a bid to win their maiden Champions League title. They came close to winning it in the 2019-20 season but ended up losing the final to Bayern Munich.

The plan to sign Koulibaly indicates that PSG are looking to switch to fielding three players at the back, which would benefit their wing-back Achraf Hakimi. Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos are already guaranteed starters at center-back and the club may be planning to add Koulibaly to the mix.