In a recent report from Express Daily, it was mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur chief Daniel Levy may give in to Antonio Conte’s demands of bringing in three distinctive reinforcements into the squad despite spending over £130 million last summer. It is understood that the former Inter Milan boss is interested in signing a midfielder this January and the Lilywhites could revisit past targets which include Franck Kessie of Barcelona.
Kessie’s Struggling Debut At The Nou Camp
Kessie has experienced a tough debut season at the Catalan club as he has failed to become a regular starter under Xavi’s tutelage. He has only made 13 appearances for Barca during this campaign, finding the back of the net once across multiple competitions.
The Ivory Coast international has made most of his appearances off the bench which could explain why he is only averaging 0.4 tackles, 0.9 shots and 0.3 key passes per game in La Liga. However, he has been accurate when distributing the ball from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 88.5% in the Spanish top flight (stats via whoscored).
Should Tottenham Hotspur Boss Antonio Conte Bring Him Aboard?
Kessie has a solid presence in the central areas as he can make some timely interceptions to earn the ball back for his team on the defensive end of the field. The Ivory Coast international doesn’t mind putting his foot into a tackle when needed and can strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range. He has the ability to hold onto the ball and create some decent chances for others around him in front of the goal.
We can expect Kessie to add more bite and steel to Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield department if Conte decides to move in for him in the current transfer window. He is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but remains versatile enough to fill in as a right-sided wide player if required.
The 26-year-old has what it takes to help Spurs compete for some major trophies over the coming years and his struggles for game time could see him ditch the Spanish outfit even though it’s just been a few months. However, the North London club should only bring him aboard if they are willing to play him regularly in Premier League football.
The Ivory Coast talent could be a shrewd acquisition for the Lilywhites but he has to figure out a way to overcome his injury problems and make a smooth transition to life in English football.
