Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly offered £23m to bring Franck Kessie to the Premier League from Serie A strugglers AC Milan.
Wolverhampton Wanderers went into the 2019/20 season dreaming of a place in the top six. Now, they’re just trying to pull clear of the relegation zone.
But it could be worse. At least you’re not AC Milan.
It’s another year and another era at the San Siro but, yet again, the seven-time European champions find themselves embroiled in crisis.
Gennaro Gattuso walked away from his spiritual home in May after the Rossoneri missed out on the Champions League on the final day of the season. But if Milan’s dream died on week 38 last season, it might be over just weeks into Marco Giampaolo’s tenure.
The former Sampdoria boss replaced Gattuso over the summer but he’s already under huge pressure. A 3-1 defeat to a Franck Ribery-inspired Fiorentina means Milan, sitting in 16th, have made their worst start to a Serie A season in 81 years.
A penny for Franck Kessie’s thoughts right now.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Wolves made a £23 million offer for the Ivory Coast midfielder while putting a contract worth £50,000-a-week on the table. Kessie, however, said no. He wanted £70,000-a-week and, with Wolves refusing to budge, the deal was off.
Now, the former Atalanta enforcer is a major part of a Milan team who have made history for all the wrong reasons. He’s started all six games under Giampaolo so far and hit a new low on Sunday, hauled off at half-time with Fiorentina cruising at the San Siro.
Kessie’s place in the team could now come under threat with Ismael Bennacer and Lucas Biglia also fighting for a place in the midfield and, with Milan still under pressure from Financial Fair Play, it would be no surprise if he is used as something of a sacrificial lamb to appease the monetary gods.
£50,000-a-week at Molineux sure looks tempting now.
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