Tottenham to offer star signing in swap deal to secure Serie A midfielder

Frank Kessie of AC Miland battles for the ball with Sergej Milinkovic Savic of Lazio, April 2021

Tottenham are reportedly going to offer up one of their star signings as they draw up a new swap deal for AC Milan midfielder Frank Kessie.

Spurs’ attention was drawn to Kessie as he has just one year left on his contract. Fabio Paratici, who has a wide network of contacts in Italy, laid out to his agent a five-year deal proposal to join the club on a free transfer next year. However, that plan was scuppered.

The Italian side’s sporting director and club legend Paolo Maldini came out and heavily suggested they would sell him this summer.

That decision has been made because they’ve already suffered financially by letting Hakan Calhanoglu and Gianluigi Donnarumma leave for nothing this year.

Paratici’s offer of an €8m annual salary to the 24-year-old was based off there being no transfer fee. Therefore, they don’t seem to have the funds to buy him.

But now it looks like he has come up with a new plan of attack to make Kessie a Tottenham player.

La Repubblica report Spurs will put Tanguy Ndombele into a swap deal offer to AC Milan.

Ndombele, also 24, was signed in 2019 for a fee believed to be £54m. But just two years later his departure looks likely.

The Frenchman is not favoured by Nuno Espirito Santo. As such, has been touted as a makeweight in two previous swap deal claims. 

In stark contrast, Nuno is a big fan of Kessie and has apparently requested him to be signed.

Kessie has been impressive in the middle of the park in Milan. In the past two seasons he has scored 7, 4 and 13 Serie A goals.

A lot of those have come from the penalty spot, from where he is quite the specialist. Throughout his career he has converted an impressive 28 spot kicks.

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Meanwhile, a separate report claims Tottenham are ready to submit a firm offer for Portugal international Joao Palhinha before the summer transfer window closes.

According to Record, Spurs are expected to make a €20million move for the 26-year-old defensive midfielder. However, his club Sporting Lisbon value the player at double that price.

At this last stage of the window it remains to be seen whether the two clubs can reach a compromise.

Palhinha impressed for his country at Euro 2020. He would also be expected to compete for a starting spot in north London.

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