Chelsea have reportedly gotten a head start on their rivals and placed a huge bid for Atalanta’s Franck Kessie.
Last month, it was reported that Chelsea had joined other European giants in the race for the Ivorian’s signature and now according to France Football, Antonio Conte’s side have offered Atalanta €25 million to let go of their prized asset.
The report goes on to state that the 20-year-old’s will be representing his nation at the African Championships in Gabon early next year, but that is not going to affect any kind of business done by Chelsea as they try recruiting him.
It was reported earlier that in a bid to sweeten the offer for Atalanta, the Blues were willing to let Kessie remain with the Serie A side for the remainder of the current season and would only take him to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.
He has been instrumental to Atalanta’s success this season and his performances have caught the attention of European giants such as Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus. Liverpool were reportedly planning a €22 million bid for the youngster as well.
Chelsea will also face competition from Manchester United, as Kessie has previously stated that he would love to play for the Red Devils someday. Jose Mourinho is even said to have contacted Kessie last month, to possibly convince him to make a switch to Old Trafford.
With Oscar having left Chelsea, Antonio Conte only has Fabregas, Matic, Kante and Chalobah to pick from as his central midfielders. Marco Van Ginkel is expected to go out on loan along with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has failed to live up to last season’s promise.
This season, Kessie has managed to rack up 7 goals and 2 assists in a mere 17 appearances in all competitions and he has been instrumental in helping Atalanta maintain their charge for a European spot next season. They currently sit at 6th place, one point behind AC Milan.
He is also superb defensively and is one of the best young box-to-box players in all of Europe. He is technically adept, has a great eye for a pass and his tireless work-rate is complimented by his near limitless stamina. These traits make him perfect for the English game and Conte’s Chelsea.
The Italian has been unable to find a balance in midfield and has had to chose between Matic’s defensive solidity and Fabregas’ creativity on numerous occasions. Kessie might very well be the answer to this problem, and at only 20 years of age, he would be the perfect long term investment.
