Barcelona will reportedly face stiff competition from Aston Villa in the race to sign 25-year-old AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie on a Bosman move.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Franck Kessie is the subject of interest from Aston Villa over a possible Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old AC Milan midfielder is also a target for Barcelona, which will be the most appealing destination.
Franck Kessie has played a pivotal role in AC Milan’s ascent since arriving from Atalanta in 2017. Over the last four and a half years, the Ivory Coast international has made significant progress as a player while becoming a pivotal figure for the Rossoneri. Kessie will be hoping to finish his journey with Milan by winning the Serie A title this season.
The 25-year-old has turned out 27 times across all competitions for AC Milan thus far this term, chipping in with six goals and one assist in the process. But the Serie A giants look set to lose Kessie as a free agent in the summer transfer window, with the two parties unlikely to agree on a renewal. The prospect of snapping up the player on a Bosman move has enticed many clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Aston Villa.
The interest from Barcelona is natural given that Sergio Busquets is approaching the end of his illustrious career. While the veteran Spanish international has been largely solid under Xavi Hernandez, the fact that he is in the twilight of his playing days will not be lost on Barcelona.
The Catalan giants are thus prioritising the signing of a versatile midfielder like Kessie, with recent reports claiming that they have submitted a €6.5 million-a-year contract to the 25-year-old. But Barcelona will need to fend off competition from Aston Villa to sign the AC Milan midfielder.
Aston Villa might need to delve into the transfer market for a midfielder in the summer transfer window as Douglas Luiz is facing an uncertain future at Villa Park. As a result, the Villans have been linked with several central midfielders lately, including Boubacar Kamara. Like Kessie, Kamara will also become a free agent, making him an appealing target.
According to the report, the most lucrative contract offer for Kessie has come from Aston Villa. But Barcelona’s project is the most appealing one for the 25-year-old. The prospect of playing European football should indeed hold more weight despite the riches on offer from Aston Villa, although the Ivorian is yet to make the final decision. What does appear to be certain is that his stint in the Serie A will soon end when he leaves AC Milan.
