AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie has insisted he is not interested in moving to Liverpool at all and plans to extend his contract at the San Siro.
Liverpool were recently tipped to start a move for Kessie in the middle of reports that talks about a new deal with Milan had stopped. Jurgen Klopp is looking for a new midfielder to replace Georginio Wijnaldum and sees Kessie, who has one year left on his contract, as a potential price target.
Kesse’s contract expires / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
However, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (the same outlet that reported on Liverpool’s interest), Kessie made it clear that he is not doing anything to move to Anfield or anywhere else because he just wants to stay in Milan.
“I am proud to have chosen Milan and my intention is not to leave,” he said. On the contrary, I want to stay forever. Now I have the Olympics, but when I return I will sort everything out.
“I just want Milan, [Paolo] Maldini and [Frederic] Massara knows my thinking. I like it so much when the ultrasound sings “a president, there is only one president”. I want to be one for life. At least in football. “
It definitely does not seem like Kessie is going anywhere soon, which means Liverpool will have to look elsewhere for their Wijnaldum replacement.
Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez, Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Lille Renato Sanches have all been suggested as options, but the problem for Liverpool is that they have to sell players before they can start signing new ones.
As described by the Liverpool Echo, all 17 non-home-grown places in Klopp’s squad have been filled, with the arrival of Ibrahima Konate and the return of borrower Takumi Minamino, which means there is simply no room left for new signings.
Liverpool must sell before they can buy / Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
Liverpool’s focus will now shift to selling, and there are many players on the chopping block. The aforementioned Minamino is one, and there are also plans to download Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi, while winger Harry Wilson has already sealed a £ 12 million move to Fulham.
It is suggested that Klopp may be interested in adding a few more home-grown names to his squad to help with the numbers, which would explain the recent links to West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen.
