Former Everton star Michael Ball insists that Kalidou Koulibaly would be a superb signing for the club this summer as Rafael Benitez bids to raise the standards at Goodison Park.

Koulibaly has been linked with an exit from Napoli this summer, and The Daily Telegraph have reported that he could move for around £35m in this window, a figure that is half of the price Napoli were demanding last year.

The central defender is approaching the final two years of his contract and Everton have been linked with a potential swoop for the Senegal international.

They were reported to have tabled an offer in July, though it was swiftly rejected by the Italian club.

Koulibaly has been with the Serie A club since 2014 and has made 283 appearances, scoring 11 goals, and is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe.

And Ball believes he is exactly the type of player that Benitez should be targeting after his appointment at Goodison Park.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “Moving forward, you want to improve year on year and if you bring in the types of Koulibaly into your football club it’s only going to raise the bar in training, competition for places, for the other players, to either reach that level or move on elsewhere and give Rafa Benitez an opportunity to spend money elsewhere in that team.”