Newcastle United and Liverpool want Frank Kessie but his former coach believes Tottenham Hotspur may be the perfect Premier League destination for the AC Milan star, speaking to Calciomercato.
If you thought the winter window was exciting, then strap yourselves in. Because the summer of 2022 has the potential to be the most intriguing, drama-filled transfer window in recent history.
On July 1st, Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Paulo Dybala, Marcelo Brozovic and Ousmane Dembele will all be out of contract. So will Chelsea duo Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Jesse Lingard and Alexandre Lacazette too. And then there’s Jason Denayer, Andrea Belotti, James Tarkowski and Noussair Mazraoui.
As it stands, Franck Kessie will be available on a free transfer too.
AC Milan are refusing to bow down to the Ivorian’s £160,000-a-week demands, offering just half that. This, then, has the makings of an un-bridgeable gap. Especially with the Milan crowd turning on one of their most consistent performers.
As Hakan Calhanoglu discovered last summer, the Rossoneri will not be bullied into breaking the bank, even if that sees Stefano Pioli lose a hugely important part of his San Siro puzzle.
Could Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?
According to La Repubblica, Barcelona are keen. As are a Liverpool side looking to inject some youth and energy into an ageing engine room.
Saudi-backed Newcastle will splash their considerable cash this summer, too, and are both ready and willing to meet Kessie’s demands.
But Massimo Drago, who coached a young Kessie during his 2015/16 loan spell at Cesena, believes there is another Premier League club who would suit the former Atalanta ace down to the ground.
“I would see him well in English football,” Drago says of a man also linked with, amongst others, Juventus. “(Would he fit in at Antonio Conte’s Tottenham) Yes, absolutely.
“Juve, in midfield, have a bit of difficulty. But I think (moving) overseas can give him little more than what they already give here in Italy.”
Kessie has scored six goals from central midfield this term for a Milan side looking to secure their first Serie A title in a decade.
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