According to reports, Aston Vila is now competing with European powerhouses for the £105,000-per-week Barcelona star.

Inter Milan and Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to sign Franck Kessie, with FC Barcelona already warming to the idea of selling the Ivory Coast international months after the dynamo’s arrival.

Despite having strong ties to city rivals AC Milan, Kessie is a target for Inter in the summer transfer window, according to CalcioMercato. The club Barcelona signed the 25-year-old African superstar earlier this year.

As per the report, Xavi Hernandez is warming to the idea of selling Kessie in 2023 based on the potential development of the midfield pairing of Gavi and Pedri, with the former Serie A superstar failing to nail a place in the Barcelona starting XI despite being signed to form a new-look system.

With a reported wage of £105,000-a-week according to Sport, it makes sense why Barcelona are willing to cut their losses so early with Kessie. And a return to Milan could now be on the cards for the former Rossoneri superstar, but for Inter. Unless Villa has something to say.

As reported by Sport, Unai Emery’s side could make a move for Kessie in the January transfer window with the midfielder seemingly surplus to requirements in Catalonia, with Villa keen to add to their ranks ahead of the second half of the season.

Indeed Villa signing Kessie would be one heck of a coup for the Premier League side given the midfielder’s impressive CV, but interest in Inter could throw Emery’s plans right out the window, even if the Nerazzurri are only interested in a deal in the summer transfer window.

Very few would have predicted Kessie to already be heading for the exit door at Barcelona just months after the midfielder signed for the Catalan giants. Yet this is the timeline we now find ourselves in, and Villa, they could miss out on the superstar with Inter now in the race for the 25-year-old.

With an opportunity to return to the city of Milan on the cards, Inter’s proposal will be a tempting one for Kessie. And although the Premier League is an exciting opportunity for the midfielder, signing for a club like Villa might not be appealing enough for the Ivorian superstar, who might want European football.