Bharath Rammr
Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie has been regarded as a big target for the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea for the summer transfer window. Both clubs were actively seeking the player’s signature even during the January window, but Atalanta were extremely intent on keeping him at the club. The Italian outfit have a great opportunity to qualify for the Europa League next season. The departure of Kessie would have been a major blow to the club in such a scenario.
Surprisingly, Everton have also been keen on the player. Manager Ronald Koeman has reportedly made Kessie as the number one transfer target for the summer. Since Ross Barkley is widely expected to leave the club in the summer, signing a top midfielder would be a priority for Everton. However, the Merseyside outfit have reportedly been set back by the latest comments made by the player. Kessie claimed that he is dreaming of a move to Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford. Since both clubs will be able to offer European football, Everton will be at a grave disadvantage. He said:
“I like the Premier League and in particular Manchester United, the club I dream of playing for. Chelsea? That is also a big club, nobody would turn them down, but I dream of United.”
Apart from the ability to offer regular first-team football, Everton have little going in favour of them. The club has certainly done well last few weeks, as they have gone unbeaten in the last five games. However, they remain only 7th in the table and will have to rely on Manchester United winning the EFL Cup in order to secure a place in the Europa League. United would seem more desperate for a player like Kessie considering that the club sold Morgan Schneiderlin in the January transfer window.
The future of Michael Carrick remains uncertain, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is also expected to leave Old Trafford in the near future. Chelsea, on the other hand, have been experiencing a lot of success with N’Golo Kante on board. Even though an able backup for the French midfielder is necessary, it is unlikely that manager Antonio Conte would want to disturb the setup which has already yielded a lot of success.
Yet, Chelsea were reportedly ready to pay around £25 million for the signature of the Ivory Coast international back in January. Manchester United were even ready to go beyond this figure. Yet, both clubs did not match the valuation of £35 million. Kessie has featured in 20 league appearances for the Italian Serie A outfit and scored six goals. Interested clubs have been taken aback by the incredible work provided by the Ivory Coast player. Chelsea are keen on Kessie, as they see him as the perfect replacement for the incredible Michael Essien, who was simply unstoppable for a couple of years during his time at Stamford Bridge before his career was ravaged by injuries.
