Juventus set to make surprise move for Barcelona star next week - Reports
Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie this summer.
The Ivorian midfielder joined Barca only last summer as a free agent after leaving AC Milan. He started just 16 games across competitions under Xavi Hernandez out of a total of 43 appearances, contributing three goals and three assists.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Kessie is now one of the priority targets for Juventus this summer. They're set to make a move for him next week.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bianconeri are waiting for Paul Pogba's sale to make a formal bid for Kessie. Manager Massimiliano Allegri is very keen to snap up the Ivorian midfielder ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Kessie also has experience playing in Serie A, having made 204 league appearances for AC Milan and Atalanta. He scored 41 goals and provided 16 assists in the Italian league.
Barcelona are looking for a fee of around €15 million for the Cote d'Ivoire international, which Juventus should be willing to pay.
Kessie is also attracting interest from Saudi Arabia. A potential move to the country could allow the Blaugrana to get a bigger fee.
Nevertheless, Barca are looking to part ways with Kessie and Clement Lenglet to raise funds and free up their wage bill.
Oriol Romeu close to Barcelona return
As per SPORT, Barcelona are close to signing Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu this summer.
The Spanish midfielder came through Barca's youth system before moving to Chelsea in 2011. He spent four years there before moving to Southampton in 2015. He made 256 appearances for the Saints and joined Girona last summer.
With Sergio Busquets and potentially Franck Kessie's departure, Barcelona manager Xavi is looking to strengthen his midfield this summer. He has signed Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City and is now close to signing Romeu.
Xavi also admitted that while the club need to sign midfielders, they need to be smart in the market due to their financial issues.
"We need to strengthen (at the base) of the midfield, but we are in a tricky situation (financially). We don't have the privilege of being able to sign who we want, so we have to adapt," Xavi said (via Forbes).
Romeu, 31, will cost around €8 million, with his contract with Girona expiring in 2025, but the Blaugrana will try to negotiate it further down.