Franck Kessie, a misfit from Barcelona, is reportedly in a bidding war with Juventus and Inter Milan to return to Serie A this summer
The record-setting Italian champions have reportedly identified the Ivory Coast international as a potential low-cost remedy for their midfield deficiencies, according to the Spanish magazine Diario Sport. The club’s issues in the back office have not been resolved despite Paul Pogba’s sensational comeback to Turin last summer.
Due to an injury-plagued season for the Frenchman, Fabio Miretti, Nicolo Fagioli, and Matias Soule, products of the youth academy, have been left to carry the bulk of the load. Despite Adrien Rabiot’s resurgence and Manuel Locatelli’s expanding impact, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is eager to bolster his midfield. Leandro Paredes will likely return to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after a disappointing season-long loan at the Allianz Stadium.
Allegri hopes to replace the position by enticing Kessie back to Serie A, assuming he stays in charge through 2022–2023 despite persistent rumours tying him to a summer departure. Before leaving the team last summer as a free transfer to join runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona, Kessie established himself over his five years at AC Milan.
The 26-year-old has struggled in Spain, making just one league start for Xavi Hernandez’s team this season after going to Spotify Camp Nou as one of the best-performing Serie A midfielders. The Ivorian might have to absorb the fallout as Barcelona plans a huge summer purge to balance the books and make room for a much-anticipated reunion with Lionel Messi.
To make place for the Argentine’s anticipated return to Catalunya, the Blaugrana will need to let go of a number of peripheral first-team talents, with Kessie being one of the first names on the trade block. As long as Juventus doesn’t have to spend a lot of money to accomplish the midfielder’s acquisition, they wouldn’t mind trying to revive his career, but Inter and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.
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