Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur would be getting a bargain if they can land Barcelona benchwarmer Franck Kessie for just £12 million, former Spurs forward Terry Gibson tells El Tel and John’s La Liga Weekly podcast.
It speaks volumes about the strength in depth available to Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou that neither Frenkie de Jong nor Franck Kessie – a key cog in AC Milan’s 2022 Serie A-winning machine – can hold down a regular place in the heart of Barca’s midfield.
Kessie has started just twice in La Liga since joining on a free transfer in July.
And Tottenham, having shown an interest during the Ivorian’s time at San Siro, could potentially look to test his resolve again this year, reports suggesting that a bid in the region of £12 million is being lined up.
If Barcelona were to accept, the cash-strapped Kings of Catalonia would find themselves making a sizeable profit on a player who has barely kicked a ball since his arrival, even if £12 million is a damn sight less than the fee Milan were demanding before his contract ran out six months ago.
Tottenham Hotspur reportedly like Franck Kessie of Barcelona
“They are talking about Kessie. I saw him linked with Spurs last week for about £12 million, which is nowhere near his full value,” Gibson points out.
“But because he was free, after finishing at Milan, and he’s hardly played (he could be available for a bargain fee).
“If you were buying him from Milan and he had three years of contract, he’d have been £25 – 30 million. But his contract was up, Barcelona got him for nothing and now clubs are talking about offering £12 – £15 million.”
Kessie, at full flow, is a midfielder tailor-made for Antonio Conte’s system; powerful and imposing yet more than useful with the ball at his feet. A ‘devastating’ talent often likened to Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure due to his strength and ball-carrying prowess.
Kessie fighting for his future in La Liga
“Franck has never been as happy as he is now,” explains agent George Atangana. “He has achieved a goal that, for many players, remains only a dream, which is to play for Barcelona. And I challenge anyone to say otherwise.
“(His lack of game-time is) nothing we hadn’t already anticipated. It is clear that, over time, he expects to play more. But we have (just) arrived in Spain and here the philosophy is different. Franck is adapting to a new type of football.
“This is certainly not what scares him. On the contrary, these (challenges) are all stimuli, part of a growth process. It’s only a matter of time (before he becomes a key player for Barca).
“Everyone at Barcelona is very happy with the player. And I want to clarify once and for all that a departure from Barcelona is not planned today.”
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