Juventus Makes Barcelona Midfielder Immediate Transfer Target

• Juventus are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season
• Massimiliano Allegri’s team have identified this Barcelona midfielder as a key target
• Barcelona are looking to cut down their squad in line with La Liga’s FFP rule

Juventus have shifted their attention to Barcelona's midfielder Franck Kessie in their quest to bolster their squad and return to the ranks of Europe's elite.

Barcelona who have already signed three players are expected to with more arrivals going by the hints provided by Club President Joan Laporta.

Laporta has also reiterated the fact the club have to sell a few players so as to help free up their books in line with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) stipulation ahead of the 2023-24 season.

So far the club have been able to discard the services of Samuel Umtiti who agreed to a mutual contract termination.

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The La Liga Champions are hoping that departures pick up in the next few weeks, and the club appear to have been offered a lifeline with Juventus’s keen interest in Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie, according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Ivorian only joined from AC Milan last summer, but a return to Italy could be on the cards as Juventus are very interested in signing him.

The Italian giant who are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season consider Kessie to be a priority target and talks are planned for the next few days, in which they will hope to convince him to join.

Barcelona are also sceptical about getting this deal over the line, with Kessie believed to have clearly stated his priority remains succeeding at the Camp Nou according to reports from Sportsmole.

Barcelona remains open to selling Kessie this summer, and they will hope that he can agree personal terms with Juventus in the next few days.

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Barcelona’s FFP Situation

The La Liga champions are still fraught with their financial plague which have hovered over them since the pandemic.

The club has resorted to selling a few of its assets, offering players to take a wage cut and activating a couple of economic levers so far to help keep the club afloat.

Kessie breaks 14-year-old record

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Franck Kessie has broken a record set by Sergio Busquets at Barcelona 14 years ago, during his UEFA Champions League debut.

The Ivory Coast midfielder became the fastest Barcelona player to score on his UCL debut with his 13th-minute strike against Viktoria Plzen.

The former AC Milan player beats Sergio Busquets' 15-minute Champions League debut goal against FC Basel in 2008.