£13m player has just agreed to a transfer, one day after being linked with Liverpool
Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie has agreed to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli, just a day after links to Liverpool re-emerged.
Kessie has been a name floating around in connection to Liverpool for quite some time now. The 26-year-old was rumoured to be on the Reds’ radar before joining Barca last summer. He was also mentioned as being an option for Jurgen Klopp just yesterday.
But now, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Kessie won’t be on his way to Anfield. Instead, the Ivorian will link up with Roberto Firmino at Al Ahli.
“Franck Kessie to Al Ahli, here we go!” says Romano. “Verbal agreement finally reached with Barcelona for fee around €15m [£13m].
“Al Ahli and Barca remain in contact to check the documents then sign the deal in the next hours. Kessie will put paper on three year deal, valid until June 2026.”
Kessie agrees Saudi Arabia move
Although it’s a shame to see more and more players heading over to Saudi Arabia, it’s good to finally put sagas like this one to bed.
It always seemed like a very long-shot that Kessie was the answer Liverpool were looking for. Last year, on a free transfer and coming off the back of a brilliant season with AC Milan, you could understand why they’d like him.
But a year older, on big wages and after an underwhelming campaign at the Camp Nou, he looks liked everything Liverpool actively avoid in the market.
Franck Kessie
Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images
Nevertheless, that isn’t to say Kessie wouldn’t have been worth having another look at.
At £13m, he would still have been a really good piece of business for the Reds. He isn’t quite the defensive midfielder they’re crying out for right now, but he’s versatile, physical and also a goal threat.
As they try, and so far fail, to beef up their options ahead of next weekend’s Premier League opener, they could have done worse than Kessie.
