Antonio Conte will be a happy man with the progress of his side this season but he will know that the squad needs a bit of improvement to face the challenges that will come their way next season. The Blues are expected to compete on all four fronts in Conte’s second season at the Stamford Bridge and the manager has been looking at some star players to add to the squad this summer. Of the many stars that have been linked to Chelsea, one player who is getting the fans excited is Bundesliga sensation, Naby Keita.
Born and brought up in Conakry, Guinea, Keita came into the spotlight in his two seasons at Red Bull Salzburg where he scored 17 goals in 59 domestic league appearances for the side. He moved to the Bundesliga at the start of the current season and has been in terrific form for this year’s surprise in Germany, RB Leipzig. His incredible run of form has seen him attract interest from the Premier League with Arsenal and Liverpool interested in his signature but Conte has also joined the race.
A deep lying defensive midfielder, who can play in a central or also in an advanced role, Keita has three goals and two assists in 11 appearances as a CDM for the German outfit this season. An excellent dribbler who knows when to release the ball, the 22-year old is way matured beyond his age. He loves to play through balls to set up his team in attack and the fact that he has the highest key pass ratio for his side this season, shows how important he has been for the club. He loves to have the ball at his feet and play short passes, inviting the opponents onto himself, making space for his teammates.
Though not the strongest in the air, Keita is a smart footballer who reads the game well and this allows him to make a number of ball-winning tackles and interceptions, making him that much more important to his team. He can sit back and provide cover for the back four if needed but Keita is a decent player going in attack, making him the perfect partner for N Golo Kante at Chelsea.
The French midfielder has been immense for Chelsea this season and has put in some energetic performances for his side. Conte has used the likes of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas as his partner but neither player has been able to balance attack with defence effectively. This is one of the main reasons why Conte wants to spend on Keita this summer.
The 22-year old is exciting in attack and can push forward with Kante settled in front of the back 4. But he is also capable of shutting shop when needed, adding more mettle to the midfield. Chelsea definitely need a star player alongside Kante in the midfield next season but it will be interesting to see if Conte spends on Keita and no other big name this summer.
