Fresh claim emerges on future of 'monstrous' AFCON winner after Everton transfer 'requests'

Reported Everton target Kalidou Koulibaly has decided to commit his future to Napoli, according to La Repubblica (via Calcio News 24). 

Il Mattino reported last week (via Sport Witness) that Everton had made ‘requests’ regarding Koulibaly and his Napoli team-mate Victor Osimhen. The Azzurri rebuffed that interest, but with the defender’s contract entering its last 18 months, Everton may have been hopeful of winning out.

The centre-back, who turned 30 last summer, is valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, and on Sunday he delivered an impressive captain’s performance to help Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations.

He won four of his six ground duels, completed 15 long passes and scored his penalty in the shoot-out (via SofaScore). In the words of Raj Chohan, European football writer for BBC Sport, Koulibaly’s display was ‘monstrous’ as his country won the tournament for the first time.

The report from La Repubblica (via Calcio News 24) stated that Koulibaly now intends to put pen to paper on a new deal at Napoli lasting ‘several’ years.

Furthermore, he is set to take over from Lorenzo Insigne as the Serie A club’s captain, with the Italian winger bound for MLS outfit Toronto FC.

Frank Lampard and Everton could use a dependable centre-back. Koulibaly certainly fits that bill, having been named in the CAF Team of the Decade and won the award for best defender in Serie A during his career.

Yerry Mina has performed well, winning nearly 70% of his duels over the course of the season so far, but he is too often unavailable.

Also, there are doubts about Michael Keane, with football writer Stephen Drennan insisting that ‘no big club would ever touch him’ because of his lack of composure. The ex-Burnley defender has also been a