Roma have reached an agreement with Atalanta for the transfer of Chelsea target Franck Kessie in a deal worth €30m (£25m), according to Sky Italia, via Football Italia.
Kessie, 20, has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign for Atalanta this season but is widely expected to leave the Serie A side this summer with a number of big European clubs circling his signature.
The Ivory Coast international, who has been dubbed the ‘new Yaya Toure’, was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window but Atalanta refused to do business, realising they would make more money this summer.
Roma are in the driving seat for Kessie’s signature but need to agree personal terms with the midfielder and have so far fallen short of his €2m (£1.7m) annual wage demands.
The Atalanta ace has already confessed he is a Manchester United supporter but there doesn’t appear to be space in the squad for someone of Kessie’s quality given they broke the world transfer record to land Paul Pogba last summer.
Kessie has scored an impressive six goals from central midfield this season in Serie A, only two players have scored more for Atalanta. However, he needs to learn to curb his temper having been sent off twice this season, only Gabriel Paletta can claim to have been shown more red cards in Serie A this term (3).
For more stats on Franck Kessie, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
