Chelsea transfer news: Napoli warn Blues Kalidou Koulibaly will honour his contract with club

Chelsea are not close to signing Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to the Italian club, who insist the defender will honour his contract at the Stadio San Paolo.

Koulibaly has been widely reported to be Antonio Conte's first major defensive target at Stamford Bridge ahead of the Italian coach's imminent arrival. According to the Daily Mirror, Chelsea have now eased ahead of London rivals Arsenal in the race for the 25-year-old's signature and will bring him to the club in a deal worth £30m.

The Senegal international has three years remaining on his current contract and has suggested this summer he would like to listen to other offers. But Napoli's outspoken president Aurelio de Laurentiis has insisted the player is going nowhere.

"I have never once argued with Koulibaly about his future," he said in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss," Gazzetta World report. "He will remain with us for another three years.

"If he wants to renew his contract with us for another five years then we will meet but the deal must satisfy both parties, because these relationships are never one-sided."

The Senegal international opened talks with Napoli over a new deal at the end of the 2015-16 season but revealed in May in an interview with L'Equipe clubs elsewhere in Europe were keen to sign him, adding he expected to receive a phone call from Conte.

"Big clubs want to sign me and there is no sign of a renewal with Napoli," he said. "The negotiations for a contract extension have stalled and they never wanted to discuss with us. I have not talked to [Conte] but that may be soon.

"If nothing happens at Napoli, I will start to have contact with other clubs. The game in England could be suitable for me but I like Italy, I do not press for a transfer but I hope to sign a renewal with Napoli or we proceed to other solutions."