Barcelona already planning to offload Kessie

FT Desk

• 15 Nov 2022 21:58 GMT
• 3 min read

Franck Kessie only arrived at Barcelona on a free transfer from AC Milan in the summer, but after making just two La Liga starts, he could already be offloaded as a makeweight for a Premier League Brazilian ace.

Kessie emerged as one of the most in-demand midfielder in world football after winning the Serie A title with AC Milan in last season, during the course of which it became apparent that the Ivorian had no intention of extending his contract.

Barca beat some fierce competition to Kessie's signature, but he arrived at Camp Nou carrying a muscular injury, and competition for his place in midfield became greater than had been expected earlier in the summer.

READ: The five players Barcelona must sell after Champions League humiliation

Midfield minefield

Frenkie de Jong ended up staying, spurning the advanced of Manchester United, while youngsters Gavi and Pedri have continued to go from strength to strength, the former succeeding the latter as European Football's Golden Boy and both recently signing new contracts with €1bn release clauses.

As a result, Kessie already find himself surplus to requirements in Catalonia, but he could have more than one Premier League club offering him a way out.

"Marco Silva's Fulham, who have been a revelation at the start of this season, would be willing to make an offer of €22 million plus variables for Franck Kessie in the winter transfer market," report Fichajes.

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"That would be an irrefutable offer for the Blaugrana, taking into account that he arrived as a free agent, and they need to fund important additions in defence.

But Aston Villa could be an alternative for Kessie. Barca want Douglas Luiz, and Kessie as a makeweight in the deal could be key to getting the Birmingham club to accept their advances.

"Kessie isn't getting the desired results in his first season in Spain," write Calcio Mercato. " For precisely this reason, using him as a bargaining chip for the Brazilian is desired. The midfielder has also aroused interest from Milan and Juventus."