Manchester United receive boost in pursuit of Serie A star

Carlo Ancelotti says he will not stand in Kalidou Koulibaly's way if the defender wants to leave Napoli this summer.

The Senegal international has enjoyed another excellent season at the Stadio San Paolo, with the Partenopei set to finish in the top two in Serie A for the third time in the last four seasons.

Koulibaly, who is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in Europe, has been heavily linked with Manchester United in recent weeks.

And although Ancelotti insists Napoli do not need to sell their star players this summer, he says he will not block the departure of anyone who wants to seek pastures new.

"We don't need to sell our best players," the Italian said. "We can sign new players following our ideas.

"However, I am not going to block whoever wants to leave. I've never done it in my career."

United have apparently identified Koulibaly as one of their leading targets as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeks to bolster his defensive options ahead of next term.

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Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).