Southampton are reportedly looking to sign Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie.
According to The Mirror, Southampton are plotting a January swoop for Atalanta starlet Franck Kessie, who saw a summer move to Sunderland fall through.
Southampton made a slow start to life under Claude Puel as they adjusted to his 4-3-1-2 system, but have lost just once in their last six Premier League games.
Southampton players huddle
Puel’s system is starting to take shape, and it relies on having a number of central midfielders. The Frenchman has Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse and Jordy Clasie at his disposal, but reports suggest that he wants another midfielder in his ranks.
The Mirror claim that Southampton are keen to sign Atalanta wonderkid Franck Kessie, who has also attracted interest from the likes of Juventus, Monaco, Napoli and Schalke.
General view inside the stadium before the match – St Mary’s Southampton
Kessie, 19, started out as a centre back but has moved into midfield after a loan spell with Cesena last season, and has hit four goals in just nine appearances for Atalanta this season.
A powerful defensive midfielder who can drop into the back four, Kessie may be seen as cover for Romeu in front of the back four, given that Puel’s other midfield options can’t match the Spaniard’s power – but Kessie, who has earned comparisons to fellow Ivorian Yaya Toure, fits the bill.
Southampton manager Claude Puel during training
Southampton’s pursuit of the teenager comes just months after Kessie’s agent, George Atangana, told Calcio Mercato that a summer deal to join Sunderland fell through at the last minute over work permit issues.
Kessie has only played four games for Ivory Coast and needs to have played 75% of Ivory Coast’s games in the last two years, but with the African Cup of Nations coming up, Kessie has the chance to boost his chances of a move to the Premier League – and Southampton may now be looking to win the race for his signature in 2017.
Would you like to see Southampton sign Kessie?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
