Liverpool have reportedly launched a ‘very interesting’ bid for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie just before the winter transfer market is set to open.
According to Italian outlet ANSA, AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie has received a very interesting offer from Liverpool. The Ivory Coast international has been heavily linked with a move to PSG and Real Madrid in recent days.
While Liverpool continue to have a multitude of options in central midfield, the combination of injuries and Covid-19 concerns have meant that the Reds squad is being stretched and might need to bolster their midfield ranks to sustain their Premier League title challenge. The loss to Leicester City on Wednesday night was an eye-opener, underlining their need for midfield reinforcements.
They let Georginio Wijnaldum leave as a free agent last summer and opted against signing a replacement while veteran James Milner is not getting any younger. Additionally, questions remain about where Naby Keita fits into the Reds’ midfield setup, while his fitness issues also remain a concern.
To that end, they have been heavily touted with a swoop for Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham recently. However, tied down to a new long-term deal at Signal Iduna Park until 2025, the England sensation would almost certainly command a fee in excess of £90 million.
This hefty price tag has turned the Reds attention towards other alternatives, with Franck Kessie and Denis Zakaria presenting more feasible options owing to their contracts expiring at the end of the season. Kessie is mooted to be a priority target for the Merseysiders being a more established option.
Regarded as one of the top midfielders in Serie A, Kessie has thrived ever since arriving in Milan from Atalanta back in the summer of 2017. To date, he has made 205 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring 35 goals and laying on 17 assists. The all-action midfielder is again turning out to be a key player for Stefano Pioli’s side this term as they hunt their first Scudetto in over ten years.
However, the Milan giants are concerned about the 24-year-old’s future, who is set to enter into the final six months of his contract and is turning heads at San Siro by stalling negotiations on a new deal. This situation has attracted plenty of interest from top clubs all across Europe, with PSG and Real Madrid rumoured to be in advanced talks with the midfielder.
Liverpool could look to take a lead in the race by lodging an early offer for the hot property. A composed midfield operator, ball-winning, intense pressing and ball-progression are Kessie’s major strengths. An intelligent footballer, he utilises his strength, positional sense and athleticism to dictate the play by mopping up in the middle of the park.
The Ivorian has also added goals to his game over the last couple of seasons, which the Reds certainly lack in the engine room. He would add further dynamism to the Reds’ midfield contingent, and at 25 years old, Liverpool would be getting a player whose prime years are still ahead of him.
With the prospect of Kessie potentially available for a cut-price deal in January or even for Bosman move next summer, whether the Reds can oust the stiff competition to secure the Ivory Coast international’s signature remains to be seen.
