Tottenham to bid for final player recommended by Paul Mitchell - sources

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Published on:

18 Dec 2016, 2:27 am

By Editor Wayne Veysey

Tottenham are ready to make a bid for the final player recommended by the club's outgoing transfer guru Paul Mitchell, Football Insider sources understand.

Spurs have been keeping close tabs on Atalanta midfielder Frank Kessie after a string of impressive displays in Serie A this season.

A well placed source has told Football Insider that the London giants are preparing to make a formal offer for Kessie, 19, who is also attracting interest from bitter rivals Arsenal.

Both clubs have watched the Ivory Coast international over the last few months and have been struck by the maturity of his performances.

Tottenham could make a move for Kessie in January but if a deal is not possible in what is a notoriously difficult window are prepared to hold fire and make another swoop next summer.

It is likely to cost around £20million to prise Kessie from Atalanta as he signed a new contract in August that ties him to the club until the summer of 2021.

Mitchell has urged Spurs to keep tabs on the Serie A midfield enforcer, who can also slot in at centre-back, in one of his scouting reports to Spurs chiefs.

Kessie is likely to be the final player the White Hart Lane head of recruitment will recommend to the club as he works the final weeks of his notice.

Mitchell resigned from his post in August amid reports that he had fallen out with chairman Daniel Levy over a number of summer transfer targets, including Chelsea ace Michy Batshuayi.

The 34-year-old, who is still employed by Tottenham while he serves his notice at the club, has been linked to a move to French club Marseille.

Ivory Coast international Kessie has a growing reputation as a result of his performances in Italy in the last two years.

The teenager, who does not turn 20 until this week, has been a mainstay for Atalanta this season, scoring an impressive six goals and supplying two assists from 16 appearances in all competitions and spread across 1405 minutes of action.

Kessie spent last season on loan at Serie B club Cesena, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 37 appearances from midfield.

In other Tottenham transfer news, fans have reacted after the club agreed the terms of a 21-year-old move in January.

Tottenham Hotspur

Franck Kessie