"?Roma are pressing ahead with plans to sign Atalanta's sought-after midfielder Franck Kessie as the Serie A club hope to edge out Chelsea in their pursuit, according to "?Sky Sports Italia.
The Giallorossi are said to be interested in landing the 20-year-old midfielder and have reportedly enquired about a potential cash-plus-players deal, aware of reports that Chelsea have also tabled a bid for the Ivory Coast international.
Chelsea are starting to learn just how much Atalanta like Frank Kessie. #TransferTalk https://t.co/DsiYsl0TCo pic.twitter.com/CAVsjgBaim
According to the report, Roma are prepared to pay £27m for his signature and will attempt to sweeten the deal by offering Atalanta Riccardo Marchizza and Marco Tumminello. Atalanta are refusing to sell the player in January but Roma remain confident they can complete a deal that will make him their player in the summer.
Kessie, who has already scored seven times in the current Serie A campaign, has been attracting interest from European clubs for over a year, with Arsenal, Monaco and Southampton all said to have been interested at one point.
Atalanta star Franck Kessie set to snub Antonio Conte's side and join Roma for £28m in June .(the sun) pic.twitter.com/k8V8YhOPK3
Deployed just in front of the defence, Kessie has emerged as one of the most effective box-to-box midfielders in Italy, representing exactly the type of player Antonio Conte is seeking to further bolster his options at Stamford Bridge.
Kessie's pace, power and stamina make him an extremely attractive proposition to clubs, regularly drawing comparisons to compatriot Yaya Toure. He is also known for making excellent runs that are penetrative and well-timed, which perhaps reveals how he has already scored seven times this season.