Franck Kessie transfer steer plants big seed of doubt in Conte masterplan
Reports of a Franck Kessie transfer to Tottenham have slowed down after the midfielder was advised to ignore overtures from Antonio Conte and commit his future instead to AC Milan.
The midfield general, 25, is quickly becoming one of football’s most coveted free agents. Kessie is out of contract next summer and predictably, has no shortage of suitors and clubs scampering to sign the AC Milan man.
Indeed, it now seems inevitable that a parting of ways between Kessie and Milan is on the cards. Their final salary offer worth around £5m a year has been rejected. As such, reports in Italy claim Kessie has informed the Serie A title chasers that he plans to leave next summer.
Furthermore, reports just before Christmas outlined the package put on the table at Spurs. They are seemingly willing to pay him a deal worth £8.4m a season, which equates to £160,000 a week.
That would make Kessie one of Tottenham’s highest-paid players, beating even Heung-Min Son’s current salary.
As such, a report on Tuesday claimed Kessie is on the verge of agreeing to the move and becoming Antonio Conte’s first signing.
His exit will hit Milan hard. Having scored five goals in 21 appearances this season, he has been the driving force from their midfield. His overall record at Milan reads 35 goals and 16 assists in 205 games. That means his quality will be hard to replace.
With all that in mind, Milan great Massimo Ambrosini has urged Kessie to think twice before jumping ship.
“I have every respect for the professional decisions of fellow players,” Ambrosini said, via the Manchester Evening News. “All I can say is these clubs who can offer a higher salary aren’t of a higher level than Milan.
“The chance to bring home €8m rather than €6m should not be the priority if you are happy, otherwise, where you already are. He shouldn’t think of Milan as being a club of a secondary level.”
Whether Kessie listens to the advice remains to be seen, with many still expecting the player to depart.
Conte coy on potential Franck Kessie transfer
Conte himself was giving little away when asked about January recruits recently.
“Honestly at this moment I cannot answer that,” he said.
“Now my focus is to work with the players to improve the situation. Then for sure we will have a meeting with the club to try understand if there is the possibility to improve the situation in terms of transfers.
“But now I think it is good to be focused on the pitch. We have a very important game [against Crystal Palace].”
He added: “No we have not been able to discuss this because of the Covid situation at the club.
“But for sure we will have a meeting. I tend to exploit situations. And I think at the moment the only way to improve Tottenham’s situation is to work hard with the squad I have got and improve my players.
“Then if there is the possibility to improve the team in the transfer window we will try to do our best to improve the level of Tottenham.”
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