Premier league champions Manchester City have reportedly preparing a bid of £85 million for Napoli center-back Kalidou Koulibaly, as they are stepping up ahead of their city rivals United.

According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, City boss Pep Guardiola is on lookout for a solid center-back to fill up the space for the recently departed club skipper Vincent Kompany, who was recently appointed as R.S.C. Anderlecht’s manager, and the Senegalese looks to be the perfect fit.
The Citizens are ready for an astronomical bid of £85 million for the star defender of Naples, which would top the current world record fee of £75 million Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018, so any successful bid for the 27-year-old would top that.
However, Liverpool is also on their pursuit to get the defender to their lineup.
Juventus and Real Madrid have both been previously been linked with the defender, but Napoli had denied any bid for their starman.
Considered to be one of the best center-backs in football, and with four years still remaining on his contract, it would take a world-record fee to acquire him this summer.
Koulibaly has made 48 appearances in all competitions for Napoli last season, along with netting the ball twice.