Tottenham have reportedly asked Barcelona to name their price for midfielder Franck Kessie as they look to add the Ivorian to their ranks this summer.
Despite arriving just 12 months ago on a free transfer, Kessie has consistently been the subject of speculation at Camp Nou, with reports he could even leave months after he joined.
Addressing exit rumours back in January, Kessie’s agent George Atangana confirmed that his client wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“They are fake news, totally false. Kessie is very happy at Barca and at Barcelona”, he told Mundo Deportivo.
“He’s only been at the club for a few months and he’s still in the process of adapting to the team and the Barca style of play, which has nothing to do with the rest of the clubs, and, therefore, it takes time.”
But in the time since, his situation has not improved. The Ivorian has started just five times all season in La Liga, and just three times since January, with Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie De Jong all ahead of him in the pecking order.
‘Franck Kessié is one of the players chosen to leave Barça as of June 30. The decision has been made and the footballer will be notified once the League is won’, they report, adding that Spurs ‘have asked for a price’ and that Barcelona could sell ‘for more than 25 million euros’.
Tottenham are, of course, in crisis at present, with no manager and serious doubts over the future of Harry Kane. At a higher level, the owners are detested by the fans, and Fabio Paratici’s ban has left the Director of football role open at present.
They face a summer of major rebuild, and Kessie could prove a cheap option to strengthen a porous midfield.
