Report: AC Milan strikes €28M deal to sign Atalanta's Kessie

AC Milan's new owners are ready to spend.

The Rossoneri have reached a €28-million agreement with Serie A upstart Atalanta to sign imposing box-to-box midfielder Franck Kessie, according to reliable Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.

Roma reportedly tabled an identical bid for the 20-year-old Ivory Coast international, but Milan trumped the capital club by offering the player €2.5 million a season over a five-year contract.

His imminent arrival signals the start of what is expected to be a busy summer for Milan's Chinese consortium, which completed a protracted takeover of the club in April and promised to inject €350 million into the team over the next three years.

Kessie rose to stardom with an Atalanta side that, incidentally, clinched a Europa League spot last weekend by way of a draw against his future employer.

Scoring six goals and adding three assists in 28 Serie A appearances this season, he has shown an incredible work rate and desire to carry the ball up the pitch.

Milan has long strived to beef up its midfield with the kind of skill and presence that Kessie possesses. But the defence is another area of concern, and Di Marzio has previously reported that the 18-time Serie A champion is in strong pursuit of Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio and Wolfsburg full-back Ricardo Rodriguez.

Several high-profile strikers have also been linked with Milan, including Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Torino's Andrea Belotti.