Is today finally the day Kalidou Koulibaly is announced as a Chelsea player?
football.london understands a £34million deal with Napoli was struck earlier this week for Edouard Mendy's international teammate. On top of this, it is understood that the 31-year-old - who is primed to sign a four-year deal with an option of another year - has successfully completed his medical checks in London.
All that is missing now is an official announcement on Chelsea's side before attention shifts to securing deals for both Presnel Kimpembe and Nathan Ake in the defensive re-shuffle which could have huge implications for the likes of Levi Colwill and others.
READ MORE: Kalidou Koulibaly backed to be a 'top' Chelsea signing as Raheem Sterling prediction made
Regardless of what is to happen in this defensive re-jig which has been caused by the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen with both Marcos Alonso and César Azpilicueta also set to leave, manager Thomas Tuchel knows that only 'top quality' additions are the key for the Blues to close the gap in 2022/23 to both Man City and Liverpool.
"The stakes are high and we're competing not only against the best teams who have ever played in the Premier League but also the best coaches," Tuchel told Sky Sports.
"If you [then] see the transfer period and quality of coach at Tottenham, if you see the same at Arsenal, at Man Utd, we know what the challenge is. It's the toughest challenge you can [have].
"We come from sanctions, we come from losing top-quality players, key players, we are a club in transition, in transition of ownership, we were behind in the transfer race and we were behind in the table. So we have things to improve.
"The signing of Raheem shows what we're capable of doing, it shows the ambition of the club and the ownership and it's good because we're all here to win and compete. We love to compete and we love the challenge at the very top. For that we need signings of new quality players or otherwise, there's no chance."
With Napoli already moving on from their No.26 with the expected acquisition of former Spurs target Kim Min-jae, all is in place for Friday to be Koulibaly day for Chelsea. Unlike Raheem Sterling though, the defender is expected to be announced in London before linking up in Los Angeles with the rest of his teammates.
This is certainly the indication given due to the latest hint of Koulibaly himself being spotted at the Chelsea Harbour hotel on Thursday evening ahead of the big confirmation itself.
@TacticalChels_ tweet read: 'Kalidou Koulibaly is in London at Chelsea harbour hotel.'
It is understood that it's almost impossible that the soon-to-be second acquisition of the Todd Boehly era in the men's remit will be available for the first pre-season clash against Club America this weekend.
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