According to a recent report by SempreMilan.com, Newcastle United are one of the clubs showing interest in securing the signature of AC Milan midfield ace Franck Kessie. However, the same source has also revealed that the Magpies will face stiff competition from Arsenal in pursuit of the Ivorian talent.
Kessie’s Lacklustre Season At Milan
The ex-Atalanta prospect is vastly experienced in Italian football, having featured in a total of 113 matches for the San Siro outfit while registering 13 goals and five assists on all fronts. The Ouragahio-born talent has been a regular feature in the AC Milan first-team this season but has been guilty of being inconsistent with his performances in the Serie A.
He has made a total of 17 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring one goal and picking up two yellow cards across all competitions. Kessie has averaged 1.4 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.6 clearances per game in the Italian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
The Milan midfielder has also earned 39 senior caps for the Ivory Coast national team but is yet to score his first international goal for his country. Kessie’s career has come to a standstill at the San Siro, so he could benefit from a change of scenery this month with Newcastle eager to pounce on his services.
What Are The Ivorian’s Best Attributes?
Kessie is a well-rounded midfielder who can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He is a commanding presence and can dominate the opposition using his physicality and tireless work ethic. The Ivory Coast international is also a decent distributor of the ball but is more renowned for making tackles and winning possession back for his side. He can also contribute on the defensive end by reading the danger quickly and making some vital last-gasp clearances.
Will Kessie Be A Wise Addition To The Newcastle Squad?
Steve Bruce’s side can gain a lot if they can find a way to bring Kessie To St. James’ Park. He will bolster the Newcastle midfield significantly and add more quality and steel to their first-team. Therefore, the Magpies should try everything they can to land the Serie A midfield ace before the transfer window draws to a close at the end of this month.
However, the jury is still out on whether Kessie will be able to cope with the high intensity of Premier League football. Even then, the pros outweigh the cons, so recruiting him could prove to be a wise move for the Tyneside giants in the long-run.
