Tottenham Hotspur might become busy again in the January transfer window as they are interested in signing AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie. The Ivorian is in his fourth season with the Italian club and has become a key player for them.
Calciomercato have reported that Kessie has yet to sign a new contract with Milan, which expires next summer. They have put in front of him a contract worth €125,000-per-week, which may not be enough to keep him at the club.
If he doesn’t agree to a new deal, Spurs could make a move for him in January by offering him a pre-contract. Juventus and PSG are also interested in signing the 24-year-old midfielder.
He has made 184 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals and assisting 15 times for the club.
Can Franck Kessie be Tottenham Hotspur’s long-term midfield solution?
Franck Kessie has transformed into one of the most dependable and consistent central midfielders in Serie A over the last few seasons.
The Ivory Coast international is capable of playing in the central midfield or defensive midfield role, and is a box-to-box midfielder who has loads of energy to do go from one side to the other throughout the game.
Kessie is a strong passer of the ball, moving it quickly and advancing forward, to get at the end of crosses and score. Last season, Kessie scored 13 times in the Serie A, which is a superb return for a midfielder.
The 24-year old is a hard-working player who also contributes defensively, averaging 1.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game for the club in the league last season. His numbers prove that he can combine guile in the attacking third with the pugnacity in midfield.
Kessie could be a good addition to the Spurs squad as he would add energy, strength, and even some goals from the middle of the park. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has played Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp in midfield this season, with Dele Alli playing a little ahead of them. Skipp and Hojbjerg offer energy and defensive stability in midfield, and have been decent so far.
But, a team like Spurs, who will have ambitions to enter the Champions League spots once again will need depth in their squad. Kessie, if he’s available on a free transfer, would be a good bit of business by Spurs.
It’s also highly likely that club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele could leave the squad by the start of next season. Ndombele has failed to reach the apogee of his career at Tottenham Hotspur, and perhaps the club are better off selling him.
Kessie is perhaps the ideal alternative for Ndombele, who at this point does not seem like he can assuage the concerns about his fitness and form.