Chelsea may have been dealt another transfer blow after Franck Kessie committed his long-term allegiance to AC Milan.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Kessie pledged his loyalty to the Serie A side and said he was ready to sign a new contract following the Olympics.
The 24-year-old is currently representing the Ivory Coast at this summer’s games.
He was a scorer in their first fixture against Saudi Arabia.
Upon the midfielder’s return to Italy, the small act of extending his current agreement will be waiting for him.
Kessie’s deal runs out next June, with several English clubs hoping he won’t promise his future to Milan.
Chelsea are said to be one of the interested Premier League parties, as they have reportedly identified the Ivorian as a potential replacement for N’Golo Kante.
Unfortunately for the Blues, these plans have seemingly been scuppered by Kessie’s latest comments.
“I am proud to have chosen Milan and it is not my intention to leave,” he said.
“On the contrary, I want to stay forever.
“Now (I am at) the Games, but when I come back from the Olympics, I’ll fix everything.”
Transfer turbulence
This isn’t the first time Chelsea have been let down in the market this year.
Achraf Hakimi rejected the moves from Stamford Bridge and decided to join Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Signing a striker is proving extremely difficult; recruiting another central defender isn’t offering much leeway either.
Although, it is not all doom and gloom.
Marcus Bettinelli is set to be the Blues’ first acquisition ahead of the upcoming campaign, filling in the vacant goalkeeper position left by Willy Caballero.
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