Five clubs who should sign Kessie or Christensen on a free transfer

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
• 3 min read

In spite of a summer filled with financial manoeuvrings, Barcelona face the very real possibility of bidding farewell to two summer signings already.

According to ESPN, the Catalans could be forced to release free transfer arrivals Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie from their contracts if they cannot register them by Saturday.

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Christensen and Kessie were signed from Chelsea and Milan respectively at the very start of the season, but with the club still above their permitted Liga salary cap they may have to be sacrificed in order to register other new expensive signings such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde.

The pair would likely have no shortage of suitors should Barca fail to accommodate their finances and be forced to release them, with the following five clubs possible destinations in the coming weeks...

Manchester United

It is no secret that Manchester United are in the market for a midfielder, nor that their earlier efforts to land one have proved a failure.

Their overtures for Frenkie de Jong appear all but dead, but perhaps they would have more success pursuing a different Barcelona man.

Kessie proved during Milan's Serie A triumph last season that he has what it takes to run the engine room and would provide much-needed depth in a position that has proved a constant problem for United in recent years.

Chelsea

Given Chelsea's struggles in signing defenders, they may not turn their noses up at the one who got away.

Christensen was a firm favourite at Stamford Bridge prior to his exit, spending eight years at the club as a cornerstone of their defence.

At 26 he still has his best years ahead of him too, and could make a shock return if Barca are unable to keep hold of him.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp admitted at the weekend after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Fulham that his side remain short of depth in the middle of the pitch, an issue only worsened by the news that Thiago Alcantara will spend several weeks out through injury.

Kessie is able to play across the middle of the park and would be a fine utility option - not to mention economical following the Reds' heavy spending this summer.

Juventus

With Adrien Rabiot reportedly close to a United switch and Paul Pogba and Weston McKennie both laid low through injury, Juventus may be another club on the hunt for new midfielders.

The Old Lady will be impressed with Kessie's Serie A track record, and the lack of a price-tag also give him the edge over expensive alternatives such as PSG's Leandro Paredes.

Real Madrid

Madrid could potentially kill two stones with one transfer before the window closes: gain an international-class defender and leave their arch-rivals apoplectic.

An approach for Christensen is unlikely, much less an affirmative answer from the Dane; but the Merengue are reportedly looking for more defensive depth and he would feel right at home alongside fellow ex-Blue Antonio Rudiger.