Tottenham leading the race to sign Franck Kessie with talks at an advanced stage

FRANCK KESSIE has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Posted Monday, December 27, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Tottenham are poised to move early to try to trigger a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie in the next week.

The 25 year old Ivory Coast midfielder's San Siro contract runs out at the end of this season, and the midfielder has told Milan he will be leaving this summer.

Kessie is eligible to talk to clubs and sign a pre-contract from January 1, and Spurs are first in the queue for a player that manager Antonio Conte has earmarked as one of the first players that he wants in during the next transfer window.

Manchester United and Arsenal are also interested in Kessie, but Tottenham have already been in contact with Kessie's representative's.

Franck Kessie looks set to join Tottenham

Kessie has netted five goals in 16 games in Serie A this season.

Milan have made Kessie a new offer of around £5 million a year, but that has been rejected by the former Atalanta player.

Conte was asked about Tottenham's transfer plans heading into January earlier this week.

“Honestly at this moment I cannot answer that," he said.

"Now my focus is to work with the players to improve the situation. Then for sure we will have a meeting with the club to try understand if there is the possibility to improve the situation in terms of transfers.

"But now I think it is good to be focused on the pitch because we have a very important game against Crystal Palace."

He added: “No we have not been able to discuss this because of the Covid situation at the club.

"But for sure we will have a meeting. I tend to exploit situations and I think at the moment the only way to improve Tottenham's situation is to work hard with the squad I have got and improve my players.

"Then if there is the possibility to improve the team in the transfer window we will try to do our best to improve the level of Tottenham.”