With the impending arrival of even more talent at FC Barcelona, those that were previously subject to not being awarded too many minutes due to a presence of quality above them will be at an even bigger disadvantage at the end of this summer window.
A case, in particular, is that of the current central midfielders at the club with the arrival of an elite signing in the form of Ilkay Gundogan.
Among those that will face the biggest consequences of this signing include Franck Kessie, with the Ivorian midfielder already struggling for minutes last season and will possibly be negatively affected even more heading into the next season.
As per Pol Ballus, the FC Barcelona correspondent at The Athletic, recent developments regarding a potential transfer of the player have emerged from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli intent on signing the Ivorian midfielder during the summer.
The report states that, at the moment, Al-Ahli are willing to offer the 26-year-old former AC Milan midfielder a contract that would see his current salary at FC Barcelona be doubled.
However, the player has reportedly asked for more financial compensation if he is indeed to move to Saudi Arabia, with the Middle Eastern club set to accept that counter-proposal and soon to present an improved offer as well, something that would now see Kessie be open to a move outside of Europe.
Moreover, Xavi Hernandez has already spoken to the Ivorian midfielder and has made it clear to him that with the signing of Ilkay Gundogan, the 26-year-old would be guaranteed even fewer minutes than last season, as was suspected would happen once the new signing was made official.
The ball is now in Kessie’s own court, as he must decide between staying with Barcelona and risking losing even more game time to continue playing in Europe, or take up the upcoming improved offer from Al-Ahli and be on his way to the lucrative land of the Middle East.
