West Ham United will go back in for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie in the next transfer window.
West Ham were heavily linked with the powerful Ivory Coast central midfielder in January.
The likes of The Mirror and The Evening Standard claimed Hammers boss David Moyes was keen on Kessie to add more pace, strength and dynamism to the West Ham midfield.
Reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee then said the Kessie speculation was true when speaking on the West Ham Way podcast before the window closed.
West Ham were trying to pull off a series of loan deals with the option to buy. And they turned their attentions instead to Tomas Soucek.
West Ham will go back in for Kessie – report
The Czech Republic midfielder joined on loan with an option to buy. And that will very much be taken up if West Ham avoid relegation after the 25-year-old made a big splash with fans, Moyes and his teammates.
Now a new report from Italy claims West Ham’s interest in Kessie ‘remains alive’.
CalcioMercato states that West Ham will try again for Kessie in the next window.
And CalcioMercato report claims Milan could be tempted into selling to get a decent fee as the player’s contract at the San Siro has less than two years remaining.
It is easy to see why West Ham are still keen to try and sign Kessie. In so many ways he would be the perfect fit.
Powerful midfielder the perfect foil for Soucek and Rice
A lack of foresight and spending over the last two windows has left West Ham weak and slow in the centre of the pitch.
Soucek’s stamina, energy, reading of the game and workrate have been hugely impressive.
And Rice has once again proved to be one of the best players in the league in that pivotal defensive midfield anchor position.
But West Ham still lack that genuine pace and box-to-box midfielder they have needed for years.
The 23-year-old is just what Moyes is missing in the middle of the pitch and he fits the profile of young, hungry players the Scot wants to build his new-look West Ham team around (whufc.com).
A box-to-box bundle of energy, pace and power
Kessie is a stocky, powerful box-to-box player who has proved he knows where the goal is in the past.
Predominantly a defensive midfielder, the Ivory Coast international already has 25 goals in his career so far.
He would be the ideal foil for Rice and Soucek in a midfield three which would transform West Ham.
There has been an over-reliance on Rice. And his midfield partner, captain Mark Noble, made the stark admission earlier this season that he can no longer be relied upon (talkSPORT).
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