Mourinho tells Man United board to sign African star who can solve his defensive problems

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is eager to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

According to UK Metro reports citing Daily Record, the Portuguese is in urgent need for defensive back up in the winter transfer window, after failing to land summer targets that include Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld.

However, Red Devils chiefs refused to sanction move for Mourinho's summer targets, having landed the pair of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof in the previous season.

And now the Portuguese is requesting that club eggheads approve the signing of 27-year-old Koulibaly, who has played a big role at the centre of Napoli's defence, which has seen him linked with a switch to Barcelona.

Interestingly, the Serie A outfit Napoli will be eyeing a deal in the region of £88m for the Senegalese star international, who still has four years left on his current deal at Naples.