Reports suggest that Barcelona have sealed an agreement for the signing of one of Africa's star midfielders on a free transfer.
According to SPORT, the Blaugrana have secured the services of Franck Kessie. As a result of the Ivorian currently playing out the last few months of his contract at AC Milan, he is well within his rights to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs outside of Italy, as per the Bosman ruling.
The 25-year-old has decided not to extend his deal with the Rossoneri because of an impasse in wage negotiations, and will earn €6.5 million (R108 million) per season after deductions in Catalonia if the transfer is completed, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Although his goal contributions have dropped this year compared to his output last season, Barca boss Xavi Hernandez is understood to be a big admirer of the midfielder's physical and technical attributes, and is eager to bolster a midfield that already has a lot of potential.
The former Atalanta man is thus expected to end his nine-year stay in Italy to join a fellow African in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has thrived since he arrived at the Camp Nou in January, in Spain.
Should the move be confirmed, Kessie will become only the second Ivory Coast international to don the famous red and blue strip after Yaya Toure, and would join a long list of combative African midfielders to play for the five-time European Cup winners.
Reports also suggest that Barca's free signing of Denmark international Andreas Christensen is a matter of when and not if, and his Chelsea teammate Cesar Azpilicueta could follow suit as he has also been heavily linked with a switch to Spain.
Barca have been linked with a plethora of talent of late, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Romelu Lukaku and Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui all being sounded out as potential targets for the Spanish giants.
