According to a recent report by Tuttomercatoweb, West Ham United have made an official bid for Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie who is currently on loan at AC Milan. It is believed that the Hammers have tabled an offer in the region of €35m for the Ivory Coast international. This bid is made despite West Ham splashing some serious cash on new recruits last summer. The East London outfit are in need of a dominant figure in midfield and Kessie fits the bill perfectly.
The Rapid Rise Of Franck Kessie In Italian Football
The 21-year-old grew up playing football in Ivory Coast for Stella Club before Atalanta snapped him up at the start of 2015. However, he was not able to break into their first-team which saw him undergo a loan spell with Cesena. The Ouragahio-born midfielder had his breakthrough year in the 2016-17 campaign when he made 31 appearances for Atalanta, scoring seven goals while grabbing four assists in all competitions.
His eye-catching displays at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia caught the attention of AC Milan chiefs who secured a two-year loan deal for him last year. Since his switch to the San Siro, Kessie has featured in 65 matches for Milan, finding the back of the net seven times while setting up seven goals across multiple competitions.
What Will The Ivory Coast Midfielder Add To Pellegrini’s Team?
Kessie is a beast in midfield and is a powerful runner with the ball. He is never tired of working hard for his team and has a habit of creating and scoring goals going forward. The 21-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder and has a bright future in European football. He could be a shrewd signing for Pellegrini if they can lure him to the London Stadium.
Do The Hammers Need Someone Like Kessie?
Manuel Pellegrini has currently got a plethora of options in midfield with the likes of Declan Rice, Jack Wilshere, Pedro Obiang, Mark Noble, Carlos Sanchez and Conor Coventry all vying for a starting berth at East London. However, the Hammers are going through an injury crisis with a lot of their first-team stars out of action in recent weeks as they are spending time on the treatment table.
The addition of Kessie would add some much-needed squad depth and increase competition for places within Pellegrini’s team. More importantly though, he would improve the West Ham midfield significantly as they look to claim a top half finish this season.
