NEWS: Barcelona strike deal with Juventus for midfielder Franck Kessie

The Spanish giants have been eager to offload players this summer, and Kessie, who may not play a pivotal role under coach Xavi Hernandez, is considered expendable.

Juventus manager Max Allegri has long been an admirer of Kessie, and the clubs have now settled on a loan deal for the current season, with an obligatory buy option for the following year, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.

Although the terms have been set, Kessie’s consent is still pending, as Juventus plans to discuss personal terms with the 26-year-old in the coming days.

Barcelona initially acquired Kessie in July 2022 on a four-year contract that included a buyout clause worth €500 million after his AC Milan contract expired on 6 July.

The new obligatory buy clause is projected to be in the range of €10-15 million for Kessie. While this represents a substantial and swift profit, many believe he is worth more. However, Barcelona’s financial constraints weaken their negotiating position.

With Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, Pedri, and Gavi as midfield alternatives, Xavi’s potential adherence to the four-midfielder system might prompt the need for an additional recruit.