Franck Kessie remains Juventus’ first-choice midfield target, but the club is not prepared to enter an auction or accept changed terms to a reported verbal pre-agreement, according to Giovanni Albanese.
Writing on X, the Italian journalist framed the pursuit in blunt terms: Juventus have identified Kessie as their priority for the midfield, but any attempt to alter the conditions already agreed verbally would see the club abandon the plan entirely rather than get drawn into a bidding war.
Albanese’s post is direct and leaves little room for ambiguity about Juventus’ stance. He wrote: “Il primo obiettivo della #Juventus a centrocampo resta #Kessie, ma niente aste o giochi di prestigio per cambiare le condizioni del pre accordo verbale. In caso contrario, si cambia il piano. (Caso Dibu Martinez-Aston Villa docet) #calciomercato” – translating roughly as Juventus’ primary midfield target remains Kessie, but there will be no auctions or gamesmanship to alter the terms of the verbal pre-agreement, with the club ready to change its plan otherwise, citing the Dibu Martinez-Aston Villa situation as a comparable precedent.
That reference to Martinez and Aston Villa is offered purely as an analogy by Albanese, not as evidence that a similar fee dispute is playing out with Kessie. No further detail on the Ivorian’s contractual status, timeline, or the specific terms of the pre-agreement was included in the report.
The Kessie link fits into Juventus’ broader midfield rebuild, a project that has also touched on names like Samuele Ricci and Eljif Elmas as the club weighs its options for reinforcing the centre of the park.
Albanese’s report does not specify what happens if talks stall, nor does it offer a timeline for when Juventus expect movement. The only certainty from this account is the club’s negotiating posture: Kessie stays top of the list, but only on Juventus’ terms.
The post Juventus Set Firm Terms for Franck Kessie Pursuit appeared first on Juvefc.com.
