In a recent report, Sport mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to land Barcelona ace Franck Kessie. It has been claimed that Spurs are in a good position in the race to recruit the Ivory Coast midfielder.
Kessie’s Unimpressive Campaign In Spanish Football
The 25-year-old has had his fair share of struggles after joining Barca last summer as he has struggled to secure a regular spot in Xavi’s first XI. Kessie has participated in 13 matches for the Catalan club, netting one goal in the process on all fronts.
The Ivory Coast talent has made most of his appearances off the bench which explains why he is only averaging 0.4 tackles, 0.9 shots and 0.3 key passes per 90 minutes in La Liga. However, he has taken care of the ball when interchanging possession with his teammates from midfield after making 88.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Kessie is under contract at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2026. Therefore, Spurs will have to make a good offer if they want to lure him to North London next year.
Is Kessie A Good Choice For Tottenham Hotspur Boss Antonio Conte?
Kessie is a tough-tackling midfielder who can make some timely interceptions for his team at the centre of the park when he is playing well on the field. He is usually a box-to-box midfielder but can also play in the number ten position or as a holding midfielder if told to do so.
The Ivory Coast sensation usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the offensive and is a good presence on the ball as well. However, things have not worked out for him at Barcelona thus far.
Hence, Spurs are in with a great chance of landing him if they are willing to pay a sizable fee for his services. Kessie is good enough to secure a regular starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, it remains to be seen whether he can handle the physical demands and high intensity of Premier League football.
The Ivory Coast talent has what it takes to offer some serious competition for Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg at the North London club. Hence, Antonio Conte would be wise to orchestrate a move to get Kessie on board as he will be a decent choice for his side to consider in 2023.
At 25, the Barcelona midfield ace’s best years are ahead of him and could help Tottenham challenge for some major silverware over the next few years.
