Linked with a Southampton transfer this week, Claude Puel’s Saints are ‘ready to get close’ to matching Atalanta’s €15 million asking price for Franck Kessie, report Sport Witness.
According to Calciomercato, Southampton are poised to offer what the Italian side want for the Ivory Coast international but Juventus are still keen on the player themselves.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Serie A champions are reportedly looking to contact Atalanta about Kessie’s availability in December but still yet to agree a transfer fee, it would appear Southampton have stolen a march on the Bianconeri at present.
Nevertheless, the report also claims that Kessie knows about Juventus’ interest in him and is keen on a switch to Turin because he’s already settled in Serie A.
With Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City having all been credited with an interest in Kessie’s signature also, Claude Puel’s Saints won’t have it all their own way in this particular transfer pursuit.