Journalist Alessandro Jacobone reported on Monday that Tottenham Hotspur held talks with Franck Kessié’s agent George Atangana and offered a five-year deal worth €8m per season after tax.
The AC Milan midfielder’s contract expires in 2022 and Spurs proposal was for him to join them as a free agent next summer.
“The renewal of Kessié? There is a common line, we must do what is sustainable. In the past this has not been done and we have paid. Both renewals and acquisitions will follow this spirit. I have no preconceptions, I am open to many solutions,” Milan chief Paolo Maldini said, as quoted by Calciomercato.
It’s claimed the ‘solution’ referred by Maldini is the ‘immediate transfer of the player’.
Milan are aware some clubs have already have held talks with Atangana, and Maldini wants to offload the 24-year-old before the window closes, if he doesn’t sign an extension soon. As things stand, Milan, Kessié and his agent are ‘open to everything’.
The the Ivory Coast international is requesting an annual salary of €6.5m and it’s lower than the €8m per season put on the table by Tottenham.
The last proposal from Milan included a base salary worth €5m per season. A figure of €3-4m in total over five years separates the two parties, and the website states his renewal will depend on Elliott Management, the owner of the Italian club.
Calciomercato’s title reads: ‘Milan, Kessié rejects Tottenham’s offer but the renewal depends on Elliott: he can leave immediately’.
Tottenham should receive hope because Milan are open to Kessié’s sale before the window closes, if he decides against signing an extension.
