Following his superb start to the Serie A season, Franck Kessie has become one of the most sought-after talents in the European game, with scouts from no fewer than seven major clubs turning out to watch him in Serie A action in midweek.
According to Italian source Eco di Bergamo, representatives from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Sevilla were all present for Atalanta’s match against Palermo on Wednesday evening.
The seven continental giants would appear to be adding their names to the likes of Juventus, Internazionale and Juventus, all of whom are understood to be interested in the 19-year-old, who has become the latest player to wear the ‘new Yaya Toure’ tag after a series of superb displays in the Italian top flight so far this season.
While the Ivory Coast international didn’t score in midweek – a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of the Sicilians – the teenager has been one of the outstanding individuals of the early weeks of the Italian season.
He scored twice on his debut – a 4-3 home defeat by Lazio – before following that up with the opener in a 2-1 loss at Sampdoria.
It was fitting that he scored the winning penalty in Atalanta’s first win of the season – a 2-1 home triumph over Torino – and even though his run of finding the net ended in midweek, he’s clearly done enough to generate major interest from some of Europe’s biggest sides.
According to reports, Kessie has already acknowledged that he’d love to represent Premier League giants United, although if he continues in his current vein of form, he will surely be the natural choice to represent compatriot Yaya Toure at City, with the West African icon appearing to be coming towards the end of the road at the Etihad Stadium.
Kessie spent last season on loan at Cesena having moved to Atalanta in 2015 from his first club, Stella Club d’Adjame.
