Report: Conte set to make first Tottenham signing, player will get £147k a week

Add as preferred source on Google

Spanish newspaper AS claim Antonio Conte is closing in on his first Tottenham signing – in the form of Milan ace Franck Kessie, on a free.

Kessie, 24, is out of contract next summer and it seems Milan have given up trying to extend his current deal. Plenty of clubs have been linked.

It comes after the Ivory Coast international had a hand in 20 goals from midfield last season. Scoring 14, Kessie also laid on six assists for Milan.

His form has dropped slightly this time around, as has Milan’s. But that has not stopped Conte from deciding to bring him to Tottenham from Italy.

Indeed, AS claim that Kessie is ‘very close’ to putting pen to paper on a mammoth £147k-a-week deal to sign for Tottenham and Conte.

It is believed that Tottenham are willing to wait until the summer to get Kessie. It means he will be signed on a pre-contract, costing nothing.

Kessie to Tottenham: Big statement of intent from manager Conte

Kessie is a top, top player. Spurs need a central midfielder. Of course, Conte knows the African ace from his time in Italy. It is a move that makes sense.

He is a good player – perhaps not the best midfielder, but there is still plenty of years left in Kessie. Under Conte, he could go a level or two higher.

He certainly improves Spurs. Kessie provides Tottenham with an engine, a progressive midfielder from deep alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Yes, he is on a big contract. But as a free agent, basically, that was always going to happen. Spurs save cash on not having to spend to get him.

A move that suits all parties, apart from Milan, of course.