Paolo Maldini has told Sport Mediaset that AC Milan ‘absolutely’ will not deviate from their set position to hand Franck Kessie a new contract against transfer interest from Aston Villa.
Kessie now has less than four-months remaining on his deal at the San Siro and will be free this summer. So, the Ivorian has caught the eye of several clubs from around Europe ahead of the next market. But the Rossoneri still will not bet everything to retain the 25-year-old.
Milan signed Kessie from Atalanta in 2017 in an initial two-year loan that carried a £24.5m obligation to buy. The midfield anchor has since racked up 36 goals and 16 assists over 211 games in all competitions. He made his latest outing in a 0-0 draw with Inter on Tuesday.
Kessie helped protect the AC Milan defence in the Coppa Italia against Inter after reports by Calciomercato cited interest from Aston Villa and Barcelona in a free summer transfer.
Both sides have made the Ivorian contractual offers, with Villa’s ‘very interesting’. But the La Liga giants’ interest has a strong appeal for Kessie, even though the wage on offer is less.
Per Sport Mediaset, Barcelona offered Kessie a contract worth €6.5m-a-year (£104k-a/w). Milan have only offered the 52-cap dynamo €5.8m-a-year (£93k-a/w) to extend his stay.
Maldini firm AC Milan ‘do not deviate’ stance to keep Aston Villa target Kessie
Barcelona’s offer and transfer interest from Aston Villa will not force AC Milan technical director Maldini to increase the Serie A side’s contract proposal to keep Kessie, however.
He accepts clubs like Barcelona being interested in Kessie is normal given his contract with AC Milan ends this year. Maldini also confirms they have yet to find an agreement. But the San Siro natives set their marker and will not allow rival suitors to back them into a corner.
“It’s normal, the player is up and we still don’t have an agreement,” he said. “The line is the one dictated by the club, we absolutely do not deviate from it.”
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