FC Barcelona proceed to place heavy emphasis on lightening their squad with the removal of fringe assets. Following the incorporation of new talent and signings in the summer transfer window, certain players are being shown the exit door.
One of the names who has found it difficult to convince the coaching staff of his continuation next season is Frank Kessie. His departure is deemed important in order to settle the club’s turbulent affairs with Financial Fair Play.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona hope to finally withdraw Kessie from the squad for good this week, as Barcelona are eager to make advancements in their exit operations.
Italian newspapers claim that Juventus possess the best shot of landing the Ivorian, but the Catalan giants are working simultaneously to ensure a safety net exists in the Premier League, the league Kessie has previously shown avid interest in.
Barcelona’s inquiries in England are fuelled by two major reasons. The first is because Barcelona are cash-strapped and Juventus are searching merely for a loan.
In addition, the player does not intend to go back to Italy, considering he feels the need to start a new chapter, after seven years with Atalanta, Cesena, and AC Milan. He also turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia because of his desire to continue plying his trade in Europe.
Although Kessie believes he has what it takes to turn his situation around following a period of adaptation, he understands minimal play time is not ideal for a player at his stage, and thus has laid out his conditions if he were to leave.
The Ivorian has piqued the interest of a number of Premier League teams, yet his top choice is one of the “Big Six” clubs in England. Mid-table sides, like Aston Villa or Wolverhampton, have also aroused interest.
With the 26-year-old’s insistence in mind and his inclination to only join Premier League sides, Barcelona are willing to comply. It remains to be seen whether Kessie will feature in the pre-season matches, as any course of action Xavi takes with him will likely have a domino effect on his status in the market.
