Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly tabled a bumper contract offer for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie, who will be a free agent next summer.
According to a report from Italian journalist Alessandro Jacobone, Tottenham Hotspur have held talks with the agent of AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie over a Bosman transfer next year when he will be a free agent.
The 24-year-old has been with Milan since 2017, having initially burst onto the scene with fellow Serie A outfit Atalanta. Joining on a two-year loan deal, Kessie developed into one of the top midfielders in Serie A during that period, prompting the Rossoneri to make his signing permanent in 2019.
The Ivory Coast international has continued along an upward trajectory in his career path and enjoyed a stunning season last time out, playing a crucial role in Milan’s runners-up finish in Serie A. To date, Kessie has featured 184 times for the Rossoneri, bagging 30 goals and setting up 15 more.
However, this summer has seen a lot of speculations surface with regard to his future as Kessie has entered the final year of his contract with Milan. The Serie A giants saw Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu leave for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, respectively, on a free transfer this summer, after their deals ran out and could face a similar situation with Kessie.
While there has been plenty of interest in his services for this summer itself, Tottenham are plotting to sign him up for nothing a year later. The Lilywhites had been linked with a move for the Ivory Coast international a while back and have now decided to act upon it, with sporting director Fabio Paratici holding talks with the midfielder’s agent.
Tottenham could certainly do with a midfielder of Kessie’s quality in their ranks. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Giovani Lo Celso are solid options for Nuno Espirito Santo to call upon, but both Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele look set for exits in the coming week, which would leave an opening in the middle of the park.
To that end, Tottenham have been linked with a number of central midfielders of late, including Sporting CP’s Joao Palhinha. And while Kessie has also emerged as an option, the Ivorian would only be arriving at the club next year, should an agreement be struck.
As per the report, the north London giants have tabled a five-year contract offer worth €8 million-a-season. However, it is also claimed that AC Milan are the favourites to extend his stay at San Siro by handing him a new deal. What now remains to be seen is whether Tottenham are able to convince Kessie to make the switch on a Bosman transfer next year with a more lucrative offer.
