Rumours that Franck Kessie could be on his way to West Ham have resurfaced and according to talkSPORT, he could be available for a nominal fee.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder has made 41 appearances this season for Milan, but with the possibility they could still qualify for the Champions League he is unlikely to be persuaded to join us.
However, talkSPORT report via Calciomercato that Kessie could be on his way out regardless after a public bust-up with teammate Lucas Biglia during a match against Inter in March.
Transfermarkt.com rate the Ivory Coast international at a whopping £31.5million but could be allowed to leave for less than that.
It would be a welcome addition to the squad as at 22-years-old, he offers long-term value with Mark Noble coming towards the end of his West Ham career. His box-to-box style is different to the midfielders we have currently, and he would provide much-needed protection for the back four, which conceded 55 goals in the league this season.
Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly a long-term admirer too, and as a player who bases his game on winning the ball, he would work well alongside Declan Rice.
Arguably Kessie’s greatest asset is his strength, both on and off the ball, making him a handful for opposition midfielders. The Premier League now is all about possession and winning the midfield battle, and this was one area of weakness for us last season after losing Cheikhou Kouyaté.
His like-for-like replacement, Carlos Sanchez, was, unfortunately, unable to show what he is capable of, so it may be time to bring Kessie in.
