BARCELONA and Inter Milan have discussed a swap deal involving midfielders Franck Kessie and Marcelo Brozovic, according to reports.
Kessie joined Barcelona from Inter’s rivals AC Milan on a free transfer last summer but has consistently been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp.
Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that a swap deal with Kessie and Inter midfielder Brozovic still has legs with specific factors making it an attractive option for both clubs.
Brozovic has been at Inter since joining from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015 and has made 253 appearances for the club.
The report adds that Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio met with his Barcelona counterpart Mateu Alemany on Thursday with the midfield pair part of their discussions.
The idea of a swap deal was first mooted in January with nothing happening but Gazzetta have reported that the deal is still alive.
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According to the report both midfielders are valued at about £26million which would make any potential swap relatively straight forward.
It is also noted that both clubs would stand to benefit financially from the potential swap.
Despite having a contract to 2026 there is ongoing tension between the Croatian and Inter with the report adding that Xavi likes his playmaking abilities.
They report that the Catalan’s view the Croatian star as an ideal successor to Sergio Busquets.
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The Ivory Coast international has reportedly been on Inter’s radar from long before he joined Barcelona.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk