PSG Identify AC Milan's $63M Midfielder As Man Utd Star Paul Pogba's Alternative: Report

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are reportedly seeing AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie as an alternative signing to their top target Paul Pogba.

PSG have approached Kessie over a potential transfer in January as the Ligue 1 side believes that Manchester United star Pogba, who has been their top target for a while now, could prefer a move to Real Madrid instead, reported French media outlet Foot Mercato.

Even though Pogba has refused to open up on his future at Old Trafford, he recently admitted that the current Manchester United team is the strongest Red Devils side he has been a part of.

Ivory Coast national Kessie joined the youth set up of a local club Stella Club d'Adjame in 2010 before he was promoted to their first team four years later. In January 2015, Serie A side Atalanta signed Kessie on a three-year contract. He started his Atalanta career with their youth squad. On receiving his maiden senior team call a few months later, Kessie remained as an unused substitute in Atalanta's 1-1 draw with Roma. Ahead of the 2015-16 season, Atalanta loaned off Kessie on a season-long loan to Serie B side Cesena. He made 37 competitive appearances for Cesena, scoring four goals.

Kessie returned to Atalanta and remained with the club for the 2016-17 campaign. He scored seven goals and made two assists in 37 matches for his side, across all competitions. In the summer of 2017, Kessie joined Atalanta's Serie A rivals AC Milan on loan. He netted five goals and four assists in as many as 54 competitive appearances, which was impressive from the then-21-year-old midfielder.

Two excellent loan seasons at AC Milan saw the seven-time Champions League winners sign Kessie permanently in 2019. Across four full campaigns, Kessie has netted 30 goals and provided 15 assists in as many as 184 competitive appearances for AC Milan. The Ivory Coast midfielder has just one year left on his current deal with AC Milan. If he does not extend his contract, he could leave the Italian club as a free agent next summer. AC Milan would not want to lose Kessie for free as the midfielder's current market value is around $63 million, according to Transfermarkt.

Kessie recently rejected a contract extension from AC Milan that was worth around $8 million per season, according to soccer website 90Min. If he fails to sign a new deal, he could either leave during the winter window in January or sign a pre-season contract in January with another club and leave AC Milan for free at the end of the 2021-22 season.

PSG have signed quite a few big stars for free this summer, including AC Milan's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The 22-year-old gloveman was Italy's hero in their Euros 2020 victory, where they defeated England in the final. Apart from Donnarumma, PSG signed Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, Gini Wijnaldum from Liverpool FC and Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona -- all on free transfers.