Barcelona is nearing an agreement with Franck Kessié, it knows Sport to report. The 25-year-old Ivorian midfielder is in possession of an expiring contract with AC Milan and has already announced that he will not renew this contract. Negotiations between Barcelona and Kessié have intensified in recent weeks and both sides are now said to be approaching each other financially.
AC Milan took Kessié away from Atalanta in 2017, initially for a rental fee of 8 million euros and definitively a year later for a transfer fee of 24 million euros. Since then, the 52-time international of Ivory Coast has played 210 official matches for i Rossoneric and also this season he is in principle a fixed value in the team of trainer Stefano Pioli. AC Milan therefore wanted to continue with Kessié and offered him an annual salary of five million euros if he would extend his expiring contract.
However, Kessié decided to ignore that offer. There is also interest from the Premier League and Arsenal and Everton are also said to have made him an offer. Those English offers did not convince Kessié, however. The midfielder wants to make a decision about his near future as soon as possible and would be charmed by the idea of playing at the Camp Nou. Barcelona and Kessié are said to be getting closer financially, so that an agreement is slowly but surely approaching.
It was previously reported from Spain that Kessié is one of three targeted transfer-free reinforcements for Barcelona. César Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen must also be brought to Catalonia after their Chelsea contracts expire. Sport wrote last week that Azpilicueta would even agree with Barcelona on a two-year contract with an option for an extra season. Negotiations with Christensen are said to be at a less advanced stage, but he is said to be determined to sign with Barcelona.
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