Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on Franck Kessie and are weighing up a move for the 24-year-old AC Milan midfield powerhouse.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid are interested in signing Franck Kessie from AC Milan in the summer transfer window. The Merengues are considering the possibility of initiating talks with the Serie A giants for the 24-year-old Ivorian midfielder, who is facing an uncertain future at San Siro.
Franck Kessie has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world since joining AC Milan from Atalanta. Initially signed on loan in the summer of 2017, the Rossoneri chose to sign him permanently two years later and he has only gone from strength to strength in this period, raking in 184 appearances while chipping in with 30 goals and 15 assists for the Serie A giants.
This summer, Kessie also represented Ivory Coast at the Tokyo Olympics, with his team bowing out in the quarter-finals. At club level, though, the 24-year-old has a lot of question marks surrounding his future with AC Milan, having entered the final year of his contract. Such a situation has alerted a number of top clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid now joining the race to sign him.
Real Madrid have been reported to be in the market for a midfield reinforcement this summer, and for good reason. Luka Modric is approaching the end of his glittering career while Toni Kroos is on the wrong side of 30. In addition, the futures of Martin Odegaard, Dani Ceballos and Isco are up in the air, leaving Federico Valverde and Casemiro as the only other viable options.
Real Madrid’s situation has become even more desperate in the past week or so, with Kroos picking up an injury that will force him to miss nearly two months of action. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that Los Blancos are keen on signing a midfielder this summer, with the likes of Manuel Locatelli, Eduardo Camavinga and Leon Goretzka among those linked with the Spanish outfit.
Kessie, to that end, is a viable target for Real Madrid, who are hoping to take advantage of their pre-season friendly with AC Milan to open discussions over a move for the Ivorian powerhouse. The Merengues are, as per the report, seeking to learn about the situation of the player before taking a call on whether they will make a move.
For now, Kessie’s future with AC Milan is uncertain, with the Serie A heavyweights scrambling to tie him down to a new long-term contract. What now remains to be seen is if Real Madrid can do anything to make his situation more complicated or if they turn their attention elsewhere.