The Lilywhites may be preparing to assist one of their new summer acquisitions in acclimating.
With a transfer from a European heavyweight, Tottenham Hotspur could enhance their midfield tenfold…
How much would Franck Kessie set you back?
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the north London club has alerted Barcelona that they will make an offer for Franck Kessie shortly.
However, such a move is heavily dependent on the future of talismanic striker Harry Kane, who appears increasingly agitated to go as Bayern Munich and, more lately, Paris Saint-Germain increase their chase.
The Ivorian has sought a Camp Nou departure due to a lack of game time, and Spurs’ new manager Ange Postecoglou might provide a good escape to relaunch a career that previously held great potential.
The Catalan club is anticipating a proposal from the Lilywhites, who were reported earlier this month to be willing to accept a cost of roughly €30 million (£26 million). He has three years left on his £149k-per-week contract.
How talented is Franck Kessie?
Welcoming such a persistent, uncompromising presence into their midfield would provide much-needed physicality to assist them take greater control as the new Premier League season approaches.
However, the 26-year-old machine combines such energy with significantly more offensive impulse than others, better aligning with Postecoglou‘s all-action approach.
With only seven starts in LaLiga last season, it is worth considering his last year in Italy as the genuine barometer of the type of player a club would be receiving with his purchase.
According to Sofascore, the midfield general had a 7.07 average rating during the 2021/22 Serie A season, powered by his six goals, 88% pass accuracy, an 18% goal conversion rate, 0.9 critical passes, and 1.3 tackles per game.
Last season, his conversion rate even eclipsed that of Heung-min Son.
With the ability to halt assaults while still possessing the speed, power, and technique to come late and smash home opportunities, he could easily be sculpted into the ideal midfielder to support Postecoglou’s philosophy.
After all, his desperate desire to get rid of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg demonstrates this, since he prefers energy to the patient and steady control that the Denmark international provides.
If he can get a deal done for Kessie, it might have a knock-on effect on the rest of the team, allowing the system and those inside it to thrive.
As a difficult creative threat trying to establish himself as one of the best in his role in the league, new summer acquisition James Maddison would benefit from his engine room energy, having taken the move up to a significantly greater platform this summer.
He left Leicester City for Spurs in a £40 million deal, coming off a fantastic year despite the club’s relegation.
His ten goals and nine assists demonstrated a good offensive midfielder capable of enhancing many teams, but his presence on an inferior side has kept him from being considered in discussions with Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Odegaard.
That is most likely owing to the high level of skill that those two have been played alongside for many years, which has helped their game flourish.
Last season, Arsenal‘s captain scored 15 goals and provided eight assists, just exceeding Maddison’s goal contribution total. Despite this, he was dubbed “number one” by commentator Jamie Redknapp when asked who the best midfielder in the Premier League was.
He averaged 2.1 vital passes per game in the league last season, whereas the England international averaged 2.3 – it’s evident that the quality of teammates matters a lot in this game.
If Maddison were to be placed alongside Harry Kane, Son, and even Kessie, his stats would undoubtedly surge to far exceed those of his Norwegian counterpart throughout north London.
After all, former Rossoneri favorite Antonio Cassano detailed the Barcelona outcast’s starring qualities, comparing him to a goalscoring Premier League great:
“I want Kessie on my team because he scores, assists, has personality, quality, doesn’t lose the ball, and is intelligent.” I’m keeping an eye on him since he was deadly against Roma.
“He reminds me of Yaya Touré in his prime.” He’s a different player, but he’s holding Milan‘s midfield alone in terms of effect.”
With his 6-foot size and commanding presence in front of goal, combining him with Maddison would just add to the depth of offensive skill that will soon have him embroiled in the conversation for the division’s top creator.
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