Report: Liverpool interested in Serie A midfield monster - previous claim made that Reds ready to pay him €7m/season

Liverpool are reportedly still interested in signing AC Milan's Franck Kessie, according to Gazzetta, as cited by Milan News.

The report claims that 'the road leading to the renewal of Kessie has become a bit complicated.'

Kessie is open to staying at the San Siro but wants to earn on a par with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede's salary is €7m net a year with the possibility to increase to €8.5m net.

Milan have reportedly offered the midfielder just €6m a season with 'some bonuses' and Gazzetta state that 'in the background, the interest of Liverpool and Tottenham must be recorded.'

Liverpool's interest is not new. At the end of July, Corriere dello Sport, via Paisley Gates, suggested that Liverpool were prepared to 'agree a contract worth €7m a year i.e. around £115,000-a-week [€134,000/week].'

What makes the Reds' interest in the Ivorian all the more interesting now is that Liverpool have been drawn to face AC Milan in the group stages of the Champions League.

He becomes a free agent at the end of the 2021/22 season and will be free to speak to Liverpool about a Bosman move to Anfield in January.

Signing Kessie isn't strictly necessary as they already have Fabinho but the Milan midfielder is more than your regular no.6 even if he dons the no.79 on his back.

Kessie is one of the best penalty kick takers in Europe but his ability to win the ball is what Jurgen Klopp will be most interested in as he could be really useful for the Reds.

He won 54 tackles and made 34 interceptions last season and only Fabinho had better numbers at Liverpool last season.

That's not a surprise as the Brazilian is one of the best in his position in the world.

It would be interesting to see where Liverpool would use him as it's clear that Fabinho is Klopp's first choice no.6 and will be regardless of who they sign in the next couple of years.