Franck Kessie in talks with Real Madrid over free transfer

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie is in talks to join Real Madrid at the end of the season when his contract expires, reports suggest.

The news comes as a blow to Liverpool and Tottenham, who had both shown interest in the 25-year-old midfielder.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has sent representatives to Milan in a bid to wrap up a pre-contract agreement for the Ivory Coast international, according to the Sun.

Negotiations between the two parties are thought to be ‘speeding up’ as Perez looks to fight off interest from elsewhere.

It’s claimed Barcelona too are keen on snapping up Kessie, with the club also in contact with Kessie’s agents.

A new deal at San Siro is not on the cards, so the two La Liga giants are facing a battle to land the highly-rated Kessie.

But the central midfielder is thought to be a ‘perfect fit’ for the Premier League, and Kessie is not short of suitors in England.

Liverpool have previously been linked with Kessie, having failed to replace Georginio Wijnaldum after he moved to PSG in the summer.

And the Reds are even claimed to have made a ‘very interesting’ offer for the AC Milan star.

There is also competition in the form of Tottenham, with Antonio Conte in the market for a midfielder this month.