Juve to take advantage of Arsenal-Barca to talk to Kessie

Cristiano Giuntoli was hired as Juventus' new sporting director earlier this month and could close the deal by securing the signing of Franck Kessie. The former Milan man is not essential at Barcelona and the 'Vecchia Signora' want him for a season in which they will try to qualify for the Champions League, although they will not be able to play in the Conference League.

'La Gazzetta dello Sport' reports that the 'Bianconeri's sporting director had planned to meet with the player for his side's friendly against Xavi Hernandez's team, but it was cancelled due to an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis in his squad. As the 'Cules' will face Arsenal in the same city where the Turin side will take on their usual Serie A rivals, the 'Rossoneri', he will take the opportunity to speak to the midfielder.

The main argument is the possibility of giving him a more prominent role than in Barcelona, where he has taken a back seat to his past at the San Siro. Last season, he came on 43 times, but only 16 of them as a starter when, in Italy, it was usual for him to be in the starting line-up every weekend. 

Barcelona have already given Juventus permission to negotiate with Franck Kessie, whose market value is 25.9 million euros. Joan Laporta would be happy to make money on his sale, as, after all, he is a player who joined the club as a free agent a few years ago, so the club would save the salary of his remaining years in Spain and would receive an interesting amount in their coffers.