Juventus Transfer Market: Talks for the Midfielder Are Picking Up Speed; Fifth Signing Looks Increasingly Likely

Juventus is working on its first midfield signing of this summer’s transfer window. After signing Kolo Muani, Ekhator, and Alajbegovic for the attack and Celik as a fullback, the Bianconeri are trying to speed up negotiations for a central midfielder: the top name on their list is Franck Kessié.

Following rumors in June, the situation surrounding the Ivorian midfielder, born in 1996, is heating up again. The former Atalanta and Milan player has become a free agent after leaving Al Ahli and is looking for a new club: he would welcome a return to Italy and Serie A. According to the latest rumors, contact between Juventus and the player’s representatives has been reestablished: Kessié will have to take a pay cut, as his salary will undoubtedly be lower than what he earned in Saudi Arabia.

Several clubs are interested in the player, and Juventus cannot afford to drag out the negotiations too long if it doesn’t want to risk missing out on the opportunity. Important developments on the matter could emerge as early as the coming days. After stints with Atalanta, Cesena, and Milan, the African midfielder left Italy in 2022 to play for Barcelona for one season.

For the past three years, he has played in Saudi Arabia. Kessié captained the Ivory Coast at the last World Cup, scoring a goal in the loss to Germany. Among the factors that could help the deal succeed is the close relationship Kessié has with Frederic Massara, a current Juventus executive with whom the midfielder shared a Serie A title during his time with Stefano Pioli’s Milan. This connection could prove decisive in convincing the player to accept the financial terms proposed by Juventus, which are inevitably far below Saudi standards.

The main obstacle, however, remains the financial one. Kessié is reported to have asked for a salary of approximately 5 million euros net per season, in addition to signing bonuses and commissions: figures that Juventus—struggling with a reduced budget following total investments of approximately 85 million euros for Kolo Muani and Alajbegovic—cannot afford to meet without first making some player sales.