Barcelona propose Inter swap deal between Kessie and experienced pivot

The Barcelona board has been quite busy working out a plan to re-sign Lionel Messi ahead of the new season, but the club are also working on the prospect of signing other players in the upcoming summer transfer window.

One of them could be midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. According to Calciomercato (h/t Goal), Barcelona have tabled a fresh offer for Brozovic recently, offering Inter Milan a direct swap deal involving Franck Kessie.

Kessie has been one of Barcelona’s most consistent midfielders since the start of the year. The Ivorian, who had a disastrous start to his life at Camp Nou, has played a crucial role in helping Barcelona in the absence of the injured Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

However, with Barcelona in a financial crunch and in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder, the club are favouring a move for Brozovic. As a result, they are ready to sacrifice Kessie.

A holding midfielder by trade, Brozovic is known for his ability to circulate the ball and control the tempo of the game. He also has ample experience at the highest level of football, having featured in 328 competitive matches for Inter Milan.

Brozovic could prove to be an ideal short-term replacement for Busquets, who is set to leave at the end of the season. Barcelona have been looking for a long-term replacement for Busquets this summer, but the addition of Brozovic could buy them some time, potentially allowing them to sign a better player in 2024.

As for Kessie, the Ivorian has never shown any desire to leave Barcelona since joining the club last summer. But given the club’s economic condition, he might have no choice but to call an early end to his career at Camp Nou.

Inter Milan, for their part, have been tracking Kessie for a long time and will not be averse to a direct swap deal involving the Ivorian and Brozovic. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the two players are interested in this operation.