'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABv/aAAgBAQAAAAAaz//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAIAQIQAAAAP//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQMQAAAAP//EACEQAAEDBAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBAgQABQYREgchMTJB/9oACAEBAAE/AOoeSWwdjtgW4+IgiWaBJCh5TyKBSPVXI13trVLj84a8IuV5GCO3sMSS98G/G+K//8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEh/9oACAECAQE/AFD/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIh/9oACAEDAQE/ALp4f//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
La Liga giants Barcelona have reportedly completed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.
The 25-year-old's contract at the San Siro was due to expire this summer. Barcelona have been tracking the player for some time. Gerard Romero (via Barca Times) has now revealed that the club have wrapped up the signing of the imposing Ivorian, who will join the Blaugrana for pre-season.
Kessie has been an important cog in Milan's wheel since joining them in 2017, initially on loan from Atalanta. The Ivorian has made 213 appearances across competitions, scoring 36 goals and giving 16 assists. Last season, he was the second-highest scorer across competitions for the club with 14 goals, three behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Kessie's arrival is a continuation of the good work done by manager Xavi, who took over as Barcelona manager in November last year. The Blaugrana were in ninth position in the league table and struggled to get going without their legendary forward Lionel Messi, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain last summer. However, Xavi has overseen a huge turnaround at the Camp Nou, with the club now third in the league standings.
The Ivorian's signing would bring much-needed midfield steel to the team, with Sergio Busquets now in the twilight of his career. A defensive-minded midfielder has been a necessity for Xavi for a while.
The Catalans have been operating under financial constraints for a while now. So the reported arrival of Kessie on a free transfer is a shrewd piece of business.
Barcelona to target more signings as Xavi's rebuild continues
Following the reported arrival of Franck Kessie, Blaugrana fans can expect to see more signings in the summer.
The club have long been targeting Borussia Dortmund goalscoring machine Erling Haaland. The Borussia Dortmund striker is one of the most sought-after forwards in world football. As per reports from CBS Sports, Barcelona, their La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Premier League giants Manchester City are three of the many clubs chasing his signature.
Reports from Barca Blaugranes indicated that Xavi and technical director Jordi Cruyff met with the player in Germany to discuss the 21-year-old's potential move to the Camp Nou.
The club are also being linked with three of Chelsea's out-of-contract defenders. Cesar Azplicueta and Antonio Rudiger have been linked as per a report from Mundo Deportivo. Andreas Christenses has been reported by multiple sources to have sealed a deal with the La Liga giants.
Fichajes has reported that the Blaugrana are considering bidding for Blues goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as well. He has played a part-time role in the Premier League side since the arrival of Edouard Mendy in the summer of 2020.
Xavi views the 25-year-old Arrizabalaga as a potential replacement for Marc Andre ter Stegen, who could depart the Camp Nou this summer.
The Blaugrana manager is also reportedly on the verge of signing Ajax right-back Noussair Mazraoui, who is attracting interest from Bayern Munich. Nevertheless, Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano, are in pole position to sign the Moroccan.
