When both Gavi and Pedri were ruled out of Barcelona’s UEFA Europa League last-32 second-leg tie at Old Trafford last week, this felt like a potential turning point in Franck Kessie’s Blaugrana career.
The former AC Milan enforcer had been little more than a big-name back-up at the Camp Nou. Just nine starts to show for his efforts across all competitions. The last thing Kessie needed, then, was to misplace a relatively simple pass on the edge of his own penalty area, Fred slamming home an equaliser seconds later.
Barcelona had been dominant in the first ‘45. It was Kessie’s mistake that let Manchester United back into the game, giving Erik ten Hag’s side the lift-off they needed. It’s hard to imagine either Pedri or Gavi, who footballers who make tika taka look like second nature, coughing up possession in such circumstances.
With Barcelona’s very well-publicised financial issues meaning this is likely to be another summer of cloth-cutting, few would be surprised if Xavi opts to make a quick buck on Kessie; a free signing departing for a cool profit just 12 months later.
Franck Kessie already fighting for his Barcelona future
“They are talking about (selling) Kessie. I saw him linked with Spurs last week for about £12 million, which is nowhere near his full value,” former Tottenham Hotspur forward Terry Gibson says on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast.
“But because he was free after finishing at Milan, and he’s hardly played (he could be available for a bargain fee).
“If you were buying him from Milan and he had three years of contract, he’d have been £25 – 30 million. But his contract was up, Barcelona got him for nothing and now clubs are talking about offering £12 – £15 million.”
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Tottenham, Sport say, are ‘very interested’ in Kessie; fomer Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte having been impressed by the Ivorian powerhouse during his time in Serie A. He might have struggled in La Liga but a side who play in transition like Spurs could make far better use of his forceful running and athleticism.
Kessie out, Amrabat in?
Barcelona have already identified a potential replacement too; Morocco’s World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat (Tuttomercatoweb). Barca haven’t a genuine defensive midfielder for some time. And Amrabat, an N’Golo Kante-like ball-winner, could be the perfect foil for the more technically gifted Pedri and Gavi.
According to Calciomercato, Barcelona’s greatest competition comes from Liverpool; another side in need of a midfield overhaul. Tottenham’s Kessie interest, however, complicates matters from Jurgen Klopp’s perspective. Kessie joining Spurs, after all, would open up a space in Barca’s squad for Amrabat. All the while also freeing up funds for the Fiorentina man’s potential £35 million arrival.
“Trust me, Amrabat is a world-class player. He is a key player in my plans,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said while the Atlas Lions were becoming the first African side ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
“I expect him to move to one of the major European clubs.”
Whether it be Liverpool, Barcelona or another, Regragui’s premonition should come true sooner rather than later. And Amrabat’s fate could be linked intrinsically with Kessie’s own at the Camp Nou.
In other news, ‘Talk he’s going to leave’: Roy Keane blasts Arsenal and Liverpool transfer target Declan Rice
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