Spurs reportedly ready to make £21.5m midfielder their 3rd-highest paid player, fans should be buzzing

Tottenham Hotspur have had their ups and downs this season, that’s for sure.

Spurs began the campaign well, but then lost form to such an extent that Nuno Espirito Santo got his P45.

Now, with Antonio Conte at the Tottenham helm, things are looking positive.

And with the January transfer window on the horizon, Conte and Fabio Paratici can work their magic.

Both have extensive experience of Serie A and its players.

And in January, one player could be available that would bolster the Tottenham ranks considerably.

That player is Milan and Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie.

The 24-year-old’s contract expires next summer and he’s yet to pen a new deal.

How much could Spurs pay Kessie salary-wise?

According to Milan Live, Kessie is looking for a salary of €10million a year (around £8.5million a year).

This works out as just over £163,000-a-week, which would make him Tottenham’s third highest-paid player.

Son Heung-min is reportedly on £140,000-a-week, while Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele are on £200,000-a-week.

And both Tottenham and PSG are reportedly ready to meet Kessie’s wage demands.

Meanwhile, Milan are reportedly unwilling to go above €6million a year (around £5million a year).

Tottenham may not have to pay much for him either.

Journalist Enzo Bucchioni, writing on Tuttomercatoweb, has now claimed that Kessie could go for as little as £21.5million.

“If an interesting offer came (€25-30million, or £21.5-25.5million), Kessie – who doesn’t want to renew – could go,” he wrote.

“This is (for Milan) to put funds together to invest in a defender.”

Spurs fans should be buzzing if they land Kessie – and he’s not an unrealistic target by any means.

Kessie has been superb for Milan since joining from Atalanta in 2019 for a reported £21.6million.

The £74,000-a-week ace has clocked up 203 appearances for the Rossoneri and registered 33 goals and 16 assists.

In addition, he has won 52 caps for Ivory Coast.

Kessie has also been linked with Liverpool.

He is a complete box-to-box midfielder who can drive forward, retains the ball well, and does his fair share of defensive work.

“Franck is a complete player,” Stefano Pioli told reporters about Kessie after a 2-0 win over Torino in February.

“He gives us physicality, energy, quality, protects the defence and knits the moves going forward too.

“He has this eternally positive mentality during the matches, he’s the first to help out a teammate or reassure them.

“This is a young side that needs guidance and encouragement, so Kessie is invaluable in that sense.”