Barcelona offered European champion in Kessi swap

Jacque Talbot

20 Jul 2023 15:45 BST
3 min read

Franck Kessie, Barcelona, 2022/23, Video Grab — © ProShots

Juventus are willing to offer Federico Chiesa to Barcelona in exchange for Franck Kessie.

Article continues under the video

The Old Lady remain very interested in the midfielder and they have plans to meet with Barcelona executives when the two clubs meet in a friendly match between the two teams in the States.

Calciomercato reports that the Italian club would prefer a loan move, but they are open to a part exchange, with Federico Chiesa going the other way.

The winger has a fractious relationship with head coach Massimiliano Allegri and it’s thought that the club will let him leave this window.

© ProShots - Chiesa is looking for a way out of Juventus

Juventus do like Kessie but they are not prepared to put a lot of money into acquiring his services. Barca are fans of Chiesa but there are worries about whether he is physically up to scratch. The attacker has only just recovered from a serious knee injury that occurred last January.

Kessie is believed to be on the transfer list at Barcelona, just a year after he joined the Catalans. The club wish to recoup money for the player but no reasonable offers have come in so far. Chiesa has been mentioned by the Barcelona recruitment for a long time, it is thought that there is a good relationship between the player's entourage and the side, but the trouble is the cost of him.

It’s also widely known that Xavi is looking to strengthen the side - with the addition of a central midfielder and right back being a priority.

Chiesa offered out

It comes after our story that Juventus are offering Chiesa to a number of leading clubs in order to boost their funds.

Sources have told FootballTransfers that the attacker is seeking a Premier League club as he is unsettled in Turin, but the money his current side is asking for - around €60 million - will make this problematic.

FootballTransfers values Chiesa at €30.6m – down from a previous peak of €57m, which he hit before being struck by serious injury.