Some reports do say that Kessie is currently in talks to potentially extend his deal at San Siro. AC Milan director Paolo Maldini is hopeful that the Italian club will be able to agree a new deal with Kessie.
“We have been talking to the agent for a year and a half. There have been many meetings and there will be others”, Maldini said in an interview.
However, Kessie’s current wage demands have complicated the negotiation process at present. The Ivorian midfielder is demanding around €6.5 million (£5.5 million) a year on a five-year contract. This is a figure Milan are not willing to pay.
This is far less than his earlier demands €8 million (£6.5 million) a year plus bonuses. Moreover, Milan expect Kessie’s demands to lower over time. As such, the two parties will then be able to reach an agreement.
Kessie joined AC Milan from Atalanta in 2017. He has made 187 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 30 goals and providing 15 assists from midfield.
Liverpool and Manchester United will have to be patient in their approach to sign Franck Kessie as no final decision on his future has been made yet.
The 24-year-old has less than 12 months remaining on his contract, and is currently in talks to potentially extend his deal at San Siro.
However, Ilmilanista reports that both Liverpool and United are monitoring the midfielder’s situation and will consider a move in January to sign the player permanently or negotiate a pre-contract agreement for him to join for free next summer.
AC Milan director Paolo Maldini is still hopeful that the Rossoneri will be able to agree a new deal with Kessie, who has also been linked with London duo Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, the Ivorian’s current wage demands are a stumbling block in negotiations at present, as he is demanding around €6.5m (£5.5m) per season for a five-year contract, a figure Milan are not prepared to pay.
Milan may consider the sale of Kessie in January as they will not want to lose another player for free, having seen Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma join Paris Saint-Germain and playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu move to city rivals Inter Milan this summer, with both players leaving the club for free when their contracts expired.
Kessie has made 187 appearances across all competitions for AC Milan since joining the club from Atalanta in 2017, scoring 30 goals and providing 15 assists.