West Ham United are looking to add AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie to their ranks, it has been reported.
The Hammers could buy the midfielder for a fee of around £30 million, but face stern competition from two other London clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea, as per Express Sport.
Kessie, who currently plays for Atalanta in Serie A, was on a two-year loan deal to AC Milan between 2017 and 2019.
The report states that Milan could exercise a clause where they can purchase the Ivory Coast international for a fee of around £24 million, but will have to sell him immediately as they will have to adhere to financial fair play regulations.
The 22-year-old midfielder joined Atalanta in 2015 before being loaned out to Cesena in Serie B. He returned to Atalanta, and after a good 2016-17 season, was signed up by AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.
He became an important player in the Milan side, starting 34 times in Serie A in the 2018-19 season, scoring seven times and assisting twice.
Kessie’s contract with Atalanta expires in 2021. He has already played 26 times for Ivory Coast since making his debut in 2014 and has become an important player for the national team.
What will Franck Kessie add to the Hammers side?
Kessie is an all-action midfielder who likes to maraud forward and make the late runs in the attacking third to score important goals.
The midfielder has the drive, aggression, and tenacity to win balls in the middle while offering something in attack and defence.
The Ivorian has the stamina and energy to do a lot of running and will work well alongside a midfielder who sits deep and defends, offering him the licence to move forward.
Kessie adds pace and physicality in midfield to win the ball and move it forward quickly.
The 22-year old would work well in the West Ham midfield and could link up with the London club’s quality attackers, with someone like Declan Rice sitting deep and protecting the defence.
Kessie has the potential to do great things if he does move to West Ham and would be a great fit in the Premier League with the abilities he possesses.
