According to Express, Arsenal will face competition from West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of Franck Kessie. The AC Milan midfielder is expected to leave the club this summer as the Rossoneri look to cut down on wages to comply with the FFP rules. It is believed that Milan are currently looking for offers in the region of £30 million for the services of Kessie.
However, the midfield apparently wants to move to a club that can offer him European football next season. And this could put both Arsenal and Tottenham in pole position to sign the Ivorian this summer.
Kessie’s successful spell at Milan
After initially joining on a season-long loan deal from Atalanta in 2017, Kessie has become a vital part of Milan’s midfield unit. The 22-year-old featured in 34 league matches during his debut campaign, scoring five goals and providing four assists.
And Ivorian followed that up yet another productive season during the 2018/19 campaign. He made 34 league appearances, during which, he was involved in ten goals. However, Kessie ultimately failed to guide his team to Champions League football next season while a spat with teammate Lucas Biglia, dented an otherwise impressive campaign for the midfielder.
What could Kessie bring to the table?
Kessie is mainly known for his incredible tenacity and work-ethic in the middle of the park. He is someone who likes to hurry and hassle the opposition ball carriers and win possession back for his team. The 22-year-old has notably averaged 1.2 tackles per game during the 2018/19 campaign.
But, the Ivorian also likes to venture forward, often finding himself on the end of a scoring opportunity. And this has been rather evident given the fact he has already netted 12 league goals within the past couple of seasons with Milan.
Kessie is also quite challenging in the air despite boasting a moderate figure of 183cm. The midfielder has won 1.3 headed duels per game, and his aerial prowess makes him an indirect threat from set-pieces. Also, the Milan midfielder can rotate the possession rather well, having attained a pass completion rate of 87% this past season.
Should Arsenal make a move for Kessie?
Kessie may not be a like for like replacement for the departing Aaron Ramsey, but the Ivorian will provide more urgency and dynamism into Arsenal that will be crucial in order to thrive under Unai Emery’s tactical philosophy. His robust style of play also makes him a tailor-made fit for the physically demanding nature of the Premier League.
A fee of just £30 million is quite cheap as well given the quality of the player, who at the age of just 22, could be a smart long-term investment for the Gunners.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
