Tottenham have reportedly taken the lead in Franck Kessie’s chase after agreeing on a fee with AC Milan over a January transfer.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Tottenham are hoping to seal a transfer for Franck Kessie later this month to ward off competition in the summer. While they have reportedly agreed on a fee with AC Milan for the Ivorian, the midfielder’s agent wants to wait until the summer in the hope of better offers.
Franck Kessie’s contractual situation at AC Milan makes him one of the hottest properties in the transfer window. With six months left on his deal with the Serie A giants, the Ivorian midfielder will be a free agent in the summer, and there will be plenty of offers to choose from.
Having spent the entirety of his career in Italy to date, including making over 200 appearances for Milan, the Ivorian could be looking at a new challenge with his next move. There is significant interest in the midfielder from top clubs, with Premier League outfit Tottenham and their manager Antonio Conte, a keen admirer.
They have been linked with a move for Kessie since before the current window opened, with the prospect of signing him on a free transfer firmly on the agenda. However, looking at the possible clubs queuing up for a summer move, Spurs have decided to bring forward the move to this month and beat the competition.
?? #Kessie, there is an agreement between #Milan and #Tottenham at €15M for the transfer in January.
❌ However, the agent of the ?? player would wait for June for his maxi fee and to make an auction with the big ?? clubs on the midfielder's salary. ?⚽#THFC #Transfers
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) January 23, 2022
Journalist Rudy Galetti has reported that Tottenham have agreed a €15 million fee with Milan for the midfielder. The Serie A giants will certainly be happy with the price considering he will move for nothing in six months. If a transfer is finalised, Tottenham could get their man ahead of some of their rivals.
However, Kessie’s agent is proving to be a stumbling block as he stalls on the move to Tottenham. The representative believes the midfielder will attract better proposals than the north Londoners in the summer. The aim is to get a better financial package than current circumstances dictate.
Real Madrid are one of the clubs interested in the midfielder. Big Premier League sides could also come into the equation if he becomes a free agent, which could prove a tricky proposition for Tottenham.
As things stand, Kessie is away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and might come back to finish the season with Milan. He will certainly gain more personally with a free transfer than moving in the current window. The midfielder’s age profile and playing style make him more attractive for clubs to consider him a long-term option.
