Photo: Getty Images

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed Chelsea submitted a bid for Napoli player Kalidou Koulibaly last summer.

De Laurentiis revealed he rejected Chelsea’s €55 million bid for Koulibaly because he wasn’t willing to let Koulibaly leave Napoli without finding an adequate replacement.

“Chelsea had offered €55m (£47million), but I told Conte that I could not give him up without first having a worthy substitute,” De Laurentiis told beIN Sports.

“(I will not sell him) unless (manager Mauricio) Sarri tells me: ‘I have Tom, Dick and Harry who are reliable: you give up who you want’.”

De Laurentiis might not be telling the whole truth as reports at the time claimed he demanded £60 million for Koulibaly which Chelsea weren’t willing to pay.