In a recent interview with PianetaMilan.it, French Football365 journalist Patrick Juillard claimed that AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie could attract interest from Newcastle United and West Ham United this summer when he said, “I see him trying his luck in the Premier League. I don’t think Kessie is ‘high profile’ enough for PSG.
“As Kessie is now a very experienced Serie A player, I see him starting a new adventure in England, where his physical qualities, his midfield activity and his box-to-box profile could attract top-level clubs like Newcastle or West Ham.”
Kessie’s Decent Run Of Form At San Siro This Season
The Ivorian midfield ace has experienced another solid campaign in Italy after producing a series of commanding displays at the heart of Stefano Pioli’s midfield. He has registered one goal and two assists in 25 matches for the Milan giants this term in all competitions.
Kessie has been a dominant presence for the Italian club at both ends of the field after averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 1.0 shots, 1.0 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Serie A this season. He has also passed the ball well during this campaign as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 88.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 23-year-old has secured a total of 39 senior caps for the Ivory Coast national team but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for his home nation. If he can show a few signs of progress next season, then he might end up playing a crucial role for his country in next year’s African Cup of Nations which has been rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Does The Ivory Coast International Offer On The Pitch?
Kessie is a well-rounded midfield talent as he can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He can use his pace and dribbling ability to make some decent runs with the ball in the opposition half. The Ivorian can use his remarkable strength to overpower the opposition and is also not afraid to get stuck in with a few tackles to earn possession back for his team. He shows excellent defensive awareness which allows him to read the danger quickly and pull off a few vital last-ditch clearances at the back. Plus, the AC Milan midfielder packs a lot of power with his shot attempts and is usually very good at converting penalties.
Is Kessie The Right Fit For The Magpies?
An influential midfielder like Kessie could prove to be a useful asset for Steve Bruce’s side in the coming seasons. He will not only add more bite and steel to the Magpies midfield but also enhance the overall depth of their squad. He will also offer some healthy competition for the likes of Matty Longstaff, Sean Longstaff, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback at St. James’ Park next season.
All in all, Kessie will be a decent fit for the Tyneside outfit as long as he can cope with the physical demands and high intensity of Premier League football. Thus, it makes sense for Newcastle to launch a move to bring him to the northeast of England before the start of the new campaign.
