Tottenham transfer blow as Milan midfielder Franck Kessie ‘agrees personal terms with Barcelona’
TOTTENHAM target Franck Kessie has agreed terms with Barcelona, reports say.
The AC Milan midfielder has also been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid.
Kessie, 25, is unable to sign contracts at the moment as he is with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But Sportitalia's Gianluigi Longari claims Kessie’s representatives have verbally agreed to join Barca at the end of his Milan contract in July.
That appears to rule out Spurs' hopes of signing him this month after reportedly negotiating a fee of around £11million.
The former Atalanta ace has long looked certain to leave Milan.
That's mainly because he apparently wanted an unlikely pay package - rumoured to be £6m plus bonuses - to sign a new deal.
Tottenham and Co could yet come back in for Kessie, who is in a strong bargaining position as he runs down a contract.
But despite their financial problems, Barcelona are now in pole position.
Meanwhile, Spurs have baulked at Porto's £55million asking price for Colombia winger Luis Diaz.
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Liverpool were briefly interested in Diaz and West Ham made enquiries.
But Manchester United could be his most serious Prem suitor as Tottenham wold be reluctant to pay £50m-plus.
Spurs chief Antonio Conte is also considering making an offer for Wolves flier Adama Traore.
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