Tottenham are reportedly losing ground in the race to sign FC Barcelona star Franck Kessie to Inter Milan, with Antonio Conte’s former side now leading the pack for the midfielder.
According to Tuttosport, Inter consider themselves favourites to sign Kessie in the January window despite the player’s agent recently meeting with the Barcelona board to tell them that his client doesn’t want a move in the winter market.
Kessie only joined Barcelona in the summer from Inter’s rivals AC Milan, with Tottenham missing out on the midfielder. Yet reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Ivory Coast international could already leave the Camp Nou five months after signing for the club.
Branded as ‘very special’ by BBC Sports pundit Pat Nevin, Kessie was one of the best midfielders in Serie A last season as Milan won the Scudetto for the first time in over a decade. And a return to the Italian city could now be on the cards with Inter increasing their interest in the 25-year-old.
Whilst a move in January might be hard to do given Barcelona and the player’s stance on a transfer next month, Inter could be persuasive in their attempts to lure the midfielder back to the San Siro, a move that will be damming for Tottenham and their transfer plans.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham are interested in signing Kessie in January having missed out on the midfielder in the summer. Yet Inter’s stance as favourites could make things difficult for Conte, who might once again be bested by a former club in the market for a target.
Inter signing Kessie will be a huge blow for Tottenham in January
As mentioned, the odds of Kessie actually leaving Barcelona feel slim at best, with multiple reports stating that Xavi Hernandez wants to keep the midfielder and to implement him more in the main starting XI with Sergio Busquets leaving in the summer. Yet the thought of the Ivorian leaving for Inter will still sting for Tottenham.
After all, Kessie is one of the best midfielders in Europe and a player that every club would love to have on their books. And Tottenham once again missing out on the 25-year-old, and this time to one of Conte’s former clubs, will be nothing short of a blow.
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