MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up a free transfer for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie to potentially replace Paul Pogba should the Frenchman decide to leave, reports say.
Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham are also interested in signing Kessie, whose contract expires in June 2022.
According to Calciomercato, talks between Milan and Kessie over a new contract are at a stalemate.
And the Ivorian international’s situation has alerted Man Utd, who have a contract situation of their own with star man Pogba.
The 28-year-old’s contract expires in the summer, but United have set a Christmas deadline on when they want an answer on whether he’ll sign a new deal.
Should the midfielder sign a contract extension, he could top an eye-watering £400,000-a-week.
LaLiga giants Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of Pogba, but there are doubts over whether they can financially afford to sign him and his international team-mate Kylian Mbappe in the same summer.
But should Pogba decide to leave United, Kessie is a good alternative.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
The midfield powerhouse is four years Pogba’s junior and has better defensive attributes, something United have been crying out for in their midfield.
West Ham’s Declan Rice is another name United have been looking at to bolster their midfield options.
But the England international would cost upwards of £80million.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
