Liverpool and Tottenham involved in Barcelona ‘FAKE NEWS’ claim

Robin Bairner

• 7 Jun 2023 12:58 BST
• 4 min read

Barcelona’s scramble to raise the money that might allow them to complete a transfer for Lionel Messi has excited the local media, with an array of stories suggesting ways that the Camp Nou side can work around the Financial Fair Play hurdles required to seal a historic deal.

One of the most obvious ways that Barca can improve their finances is by selling players, with numerous fringe stars linked with a transfer away from the club.

Franck Kessie was one of those who has been associated with a departure and on Wednesday it was claimed by a major outlet that he had reached an agreement to depart the club.

MORE: Barcelona to offer Messi contract as two MYSTERY offers arrive

Barcelona, it was claimed, wanted €35 million for the signature of a player who arrived at the club last summer on a free transfer from Milan. It is reckoned that this would leave the Camp Nou side in profit to the tune of €15-17m given costs associated with the player over the course of the last year.

And there has been significant reported interest in Kessie, with Tottenham, Liverpool and Inter Milan all linked with the 26-year-old, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €39m – slightly more than Barca’s asking price.

MORE: Liverpool move for Barcelona star to partner Alexis Mac Allister

Kessie transfer rumours knocked back

Fabrizio Romano, though, has relayed information from the player’s camp indicating that the reports are ‘fake news’.

“Franck Kessie’s agent publicly describes as ‘fake news’ the info about his client giving the green light to leave Barca,” Romano tweeted. “Player’s camp position has not changed as of today.”

Romano’s information backs up FootballTransfers’ understanding that Kessie’s future lies at Barcelona.

“Understand there’s nothing in the reports suggesting Franck Kessie will move away from Barcelona. Midfielder has been linked to Inter and Liverpool. Those close to player tell me his future is at the Nou Camp,” FootballTransfers correspondent Jacque Talbot explained on Monday.

Kessie remains one of the players most regularly linked with a move away from Barcelona, with Eric Garcia, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres the others being pushed towards an exit.