FC Barcelona brought a number of reinforcements to their squad at the beginning of this season, and one of the more notable signings made was Franck Kessie. However, the midfielder has not entirely been able to lock a starting position in the squad and can move away from the club after only one season.
Franck Kessie came to Barcelona on a free transfer, as his contract at AC Milan had expired. The midfielder was one of the main factors that allowed the Milan side to win the Scudetto last season, with him providing the much-needed grit and steel in the middle of the pitch. Primarily attracted to these attributes, FC Barcelona were quick to pounce on the Ivorian to strengthen their midfield.
However, his time at the Catalan club has not gone exactly to plan, as the player has struggled to lock down a starting position in the squad. Despite making some impressive appearances in the absence of Pedri and De Jong, Kessie’s name is still significantly down in the pecking order, and he is not expected to get significant game time as the established starters return from their injuries.
Furthermore, the relationship between Kessie and Barcelona is also not optimal at the moment, as the club has asked the player for a wage reduction, which he is unwilling to accept. As a result, his future at the club is becoming increasingly uncertain, and the arrival of further reinforcements in the midfield, particularly Gundogan, can further complicate the situation for the player.
Owing to this uncertainty, other major European clubs have become wary of the player’s contract situation. SPORT reports that the latest side to show their interest in Kessie has been another Italian side Juventus, who are looking to redesign their squad, and would be looking at a possible swap deal involving Paredes and Kessie.
Tottenham already made an approach for the midfielder in January and is still monitoring the player. Inter Milan and Barcelona were also involved in negotiations for a swap deal involving Kessie and Brozovic, and the Italian club could also become involved in such a possibility once again.
