Liverpool are willing to double Barcelona’s contract proposal in the battle to secure AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie’s signature, according to reports in the Catalan media.
The Ivorian international’s current deal at the San Siro expires next summer and he can sign an agreement as early as January ahead of a free transfer in July.
Milan have not been able to tie down Kessie to a new contract so far, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Barca all said to be targeting the 24-year-old. Fans on Twitter have had a mixed reaction to reports that the Reds are ready to table a lucrative offer to the player:
Pay them whatever it takes. Quality.
— Arturo Cordial ®️ (@arturocordial) October 12, 2021
Was one of the best mids in serie A last season along barella. Struggled this season though due to playing alot of games last yr.
— Nathan Mario Zammit (@Kynatin) October 12, 2021
Get him and cantwell in January. Sell ox and keita.
Get a forward and sell Origi and minamino and we have a perfect squad.
— The Normal One (@TheeNormalOne) October 12, 2021
No way. He is average af.
— Shakir (@SH35dv5e7) October 12, 2021
Ox leaves, or has to leave sadly. We get Kessie- a do the dirty work midfielder ala Gini and the Cap. YES. And another YES. Please.😃
— RO. (@barnaclebloom) October 12, 2021
Wasn’t great against Liverpool at Anfield. Just a running merchant
— Qazi M. Fayyaz 🇵🇰 (@qaz1f) October 12, 2021
You do get the feeling that Kessie’s agent may be playing teams off against each other to get the best contract for his client. Whether Liverpool are actually interested in the Ivorian, it is up for debate.
All the stories linking Kessie with a move to Anfield have come from Italy or Spain, with no reliable journalists in the UK having suggested him as a possible signing so far.