Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United dealt huge transfer blow as Franck Kessie ‘signs’ for new club
According to transfer expert Gerard Romero on Twitter (h/t Express), AC Milan star Franck Kessie has already agreed on a deal to join Barcelona at the end of the season, which comes as a severe transfer blow to Manchester United.
The star is out of contract this summer and is currently running down the last few months of his deal with AC Milan. As such, the player is allowed to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.
United’s midfield has been a weak link in their team for many years now, with a midfield lynchpin missing in the squad since Michael Carrick’s retirement. Kessie would have made a fine replacement, but Barcelona seem to have beaten the Red Devils to his signature.
The Ivory Coast international has played in Italy his entire senior career, turning out for Atalanta before making his name at the San Siro. It now looks like he is taking a step up and looking to further his game under Xavi Hernandez at the Nou Camp.
Free hit for Barca
United were linked with a move for Kessie in the winter transfer window, but eventually, the club did not make any new signings in January. Perhaps after spending heavily the previous summer, the side was wary of splashing more cash just six months later.
Romero has now claimed that Kessie and Barcelona have reached an agreement for a free move in the summer, which benefits the cash-strapped Spanish side as they do not need to worry about a transfer fee.
With a move for Kessie seemingly out of the question, United will need to look at other midfield options in the summer. Till then, they will need to continue with Fred and Scott McTominay in the middle of the park, who have failed to impress.
The club still only has one defensive midfielder in Nemanja Matic, which has hurt them previously. The player is not getting any younger, and he is not as mobile as he once used to be. This is an area that we need to invest in at the end of the season.
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James Garner is out on loan at Nottingham Forest, but has been impressing in the Championship. Perhaps next season, we could try him out in the first team so we do not need to spend bags of cash in the transfer market.
Donny van de Beek is also expected back from his loan spell at Everton. Only time will tell if he plans on staying beyond the season, but hopefully, the new manager in charge makes him the midfielder we hope he can be and recreate his form from Ajax.
