Chelsea have reportedly had a £27m bid rejected for Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie. The Ivory Coast midfielder has been a long-term target for Antonio Conte.
Kessie has been a revelation for Atalanta this season. The midfielder has returned to Italy after Ivory Coast crashed out from the group stage of the AFCON. The 20-year-old has been in demand as a number clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have shown interest in the player.
After the departure of Oscar and Mikel, Conte wants to fill the void in the midfield section and the youngster fits the bill perfectly. The Blues had reportedly offered an initial £21m with the deal rising to £27m with add-ons.
Dubbed as the new Yaya Toure the youngster has an amazing passing range and has the ability to control the game from deeper areas. The Ivorian has already netted six goals in the Serie A this season. Chelsea could be back with a better offer but Atalanta are confident of keeping their star player.
