Liverpool are among a few clubs reportedly interested in signing midfielder Franck Kessie, who has rejected AC Milan’s latest contract extension offer.
The Ivory Coast international, 24, had a solid 2020-21 season, helping AC Milan get back into the Champions League for the first time in more than five years. He registered 13 goals and six assists in 37 games, as the Rossoneri finished second on the table under Stefano Pioli.
However, with Franck Kessie entering the final 12 months of his contract, AC Milan are doing everything to secure his signature for the long term.
According to the Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t The Daily Mirror), the 24-year-old midfielder has turned down his club’s latest offer worth around €6.5 million per year, thereby, alerting the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had a very quiet summer transfer window, bringing in just a new face in defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig back in May.
Franck Kessie to Liverpool—A solid addition to Jürgen Klopp’s midfield?
Georginio Wijnaldum, one of Jürgen Klopp’s most trusted players, left the Reds to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer. Considering Wijnaldum’s importance to this Liverpool side, the Reds should’ve signed his replacement in the recent transfer window.
No midfield reinforcements arriving at Anfield means Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could both feature more regularly for Liverpool this season, provided they stay fit. Teenage sensation Harvey Elliot has been a breath of fresh air in midfield and is likely to get more opportunities after the international break.
Nevertheless, the Reds must not ignore replacing Wijnaldum when the transfer window re-opens and must go for AC Milan star Franck Kessie.
Kessie has been a consistent player for Milan ever since arriving from Atalanta in 2017, initially on loan, racking up 30 goals and 15 assists in 184 appearances so far. An all-action midfielder, the Ivory Coast international is a strong passer and distributor of the ball, excels with his tackling skills, and never shies away from engaging in midfield battles.
The 24-year-old’s strength and power allow him to keep hold of the ball even under pressure and carry without much fuss in the final third before creating chances for his teammates.
A midfield dynamo like Kessie can aid the Liverpool midfield with his driving runs in the final third while his physical prowess and passing ability make him a tailor-made fit for the more robust Premier League.
With James Milner in the twilight of his career and captain Jordan Henderson’s recent fitness concerns, Liverpool must do everything to their powers to sign Kessie in the January transfer window.
The Ivory Coast international’s stock is higher than ever and would represent a straight upgrade on Wijnaldum.
