Juventus express interest in signing Barcelona midfielder

According to Sport, reports from various Italian media outlets suggest that Juventus has expressed an interest in signing Franck Kessie from Barcelona for the upcoming season. The Italian club believes that the midfielder’s performance can be excellent in Italy, and they have joined the likes of Inter Milan in pursuing him. Tottenham Hotspurs is also said to be waiting for a decision from Barcelona regarding the midfielder, having shown interest in him in January.

Juve wants to overhaul its midfield after a disappointing season, and the club is set to offload Leandro Paredes. Kessie is seen as an interesting prospect for Juventus to bolster their midfield. Despite this, the investment will be kept to a minimum, so the club is prioritizing some form of exchange deal, as was also discussed by Inter with Barcelona, with the option of Marcelo Brozovic on the table.

Barcelona has proposed a potential salary reduction for Kessie for the upcoming season, which he has reportedly declined. The club is now open to various scenarios, including listening to offers if they manage to secure the signing of İlkay Gundogan from Manchester City and renew Sergio Busquets. Xavi is also said to be seeking another pivot in front of the defence, which could limit Kessie’s involvement in the team.

Barcelona ready to sell Franck Kessie

If Kessie does end up leaving, Barcelona would prioritize a straightforward transfer deal to maximize the operation’s benefits. The option of an exchange deal would only be considered if it is deemed to be of sporting interest and approved by Xavi.

For now, the Catalan giants are prioritizing the sale of many players in order to fix their wage bill as this is a requirement before signing any new players. Barca will be interested in exchange deals as that reduces the amount they need to spend but will only consider this if it helps them reduce their wage bill while adding value to the squad.

Should Barca keep or sell Franck Kessie?