Where Kalidou Koulibaly will fit into Chelsea’s salary structure as £35million defender’s salary is revealed ahead of transfer

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

The defender will sign for Thomas Tuchel’s side after eight years at Napoli.

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

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romanothe Senegalese star is set to sign a £162,000-a-week contract at Stamford Bridge.

This makes him Chelsea’s fifth highest-paid player.

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

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

German flop Timo Werner is raking in £270,000-a-week while Ben Chilwell is their highest-paid defender at £190,000.

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

Napoli coach 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 decides 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 the best because he deserves it.”

Nathan Ake has also been linked with a move back to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth at least £41million from Manchester City after leaving Chelsea for Bournemouth in 2017.

The Blues are also close to finalizing a £47.5million deal for Raheem Sterling, who is expected to receive a deal worth around £300,000 a week.