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Everton should have signed Franck Kessie in 2017

Farhad Moshiri looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on November 29, 2017 in Liverpool, Eng...
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Premier League outfit Everton have reportedly been tracking AC Milan’s Serie A star Franck Kessie from 2016 to the present day.

Franck Kessie (L) of Atalanta BC in action against Alex Sandro of Juventus FC during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Atalanta BC at Juventus Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Turin,...

After just four impressive months in the Atalanta first-team, young Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie caught the eye of Everton.

Gianluca Di Marzio claimed in December 2016 that The Toffees were showing the most interest in the then 20-year-old, who had just burst onto the scene in Serie A after spending the previous season on loan in the second tier with Cesena.

And it seems that Everton’s interest has never wavered. Sky Italia reported at the start of August that they were still keen to bring Kessie to Merseyside.

But he is no longer a rising star in the Bergamo. Kessie is now one of Serie A’s most accomplished midfielders, an undisputed starter for a rejuvenated AC Milan and a player Gennaro Gattuso says is better than he ever was, as reported by Mediaset.

And his price tag has justifiably rocketed. Calciomercato have claimed that Wolves had a bid of £54 million rejected by Milan, who see Kessie as a real star in the making and are determined to tie him down to a new and improved contract.

AC Milan's Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match AC Milan vs Spal at San Siro stadium in Milan on September 20, 2017.

So Everton should be looking back to the 2017 winter window and kicking themselves. Kessie would have cost a fraction of his current price back then but now it seems that any chance to sign him has passed them by.

If Kessie was to leave Milan, it would surely be to join a bonafide European powerhouse for a fee that would make the eyes water.

Fabio Borini of AC Milan celebrates with team mate Franck Kessie after scoring the opening goal during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between AC Milan and Ludogorets Razgrad at the...