Premier League-linked midfielder ‘signs four-year deal with Barca’

Jason Soutar
Barcelona bound Franck Kessie during a match

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie will join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Ivory Coast midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months.

Proof Man Utd > Liverpool as ‘secret’ manager decision made

Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal were all rumoured to be interested in signing Kessie, who is out of contract at the San Siro this summer.

Barcelona emerged as the frontrunners to sign the 25-year-old after Spurs ‘pulled out’ due to the player’s contract demands.

Kessie signed for Milan from Atalanta in 2019 and has made 214 appearances for the Serie A club.

Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Twitter that Kessie will sign for Barcelona in the summer after his contract in Milan expires.

He said: “Here we go. After verbal agreement reached days ago, Franck Kessie has signed as new Barcelona player until June 2026 – it’s gonna be four year deal, he joins as free agent from AC Milan.

“Kessie will receive €6.5m net salary plus add-ons. Medical already completed.”

This means that Spurs and United – who were both particularly keen – will have to look elsewhere in the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils’ main priority is finding a new long-term manager, however.

Ralf Rangnick is in charge at Old Trafford until the end of the season, when he will step into a two-year consultancy role.

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has emerged as the No. 1 choice to replace Rangnick, whilst former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has also been linked.

A report on Monday claimed that Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel is ‘not being considered’ for the United job.

Earlier this month it was suggested that Man Utd were planning to ‘go all out’ to get Tuchel.

Reports linking the German with Man Utd is described as ‘media talk and not reality’, as per Sky Sports.

They go on to name Pochettino, Ten Hag, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique as the managers on United’s ‘four-man shortlist’.

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