Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Antoine Griezmann, Franck Kessie
Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann has revealed Paris Saint-Germain made an approach for him last summer, alerting the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, while the agent of Atalanta starlet Franck Kessie has said the Gunners have been scouting his client.
Speculation over Griezmann's future refuses to die down, and the France international has now fuelled the rumour mill by revealing PSG approached him during the summer, only to be turned back because the player wanted to focus on UEFA Euro 2016.
Asked if he was aware of PSG's interested in his services, he told Le Parisien (h/t Daily Express' Joe Short):
Yes, but as it was during Euros I told my agent I did not want to listen.
I told him: "I do not want you talking to me of Atletico or Paris - I want you to leave me in Clairefontaine."
But I know they were very interested.
They are a big club that wants to become even bigger.
I hope for them that they will get there.
Per Short, Griezmann has previously pointed at Atletico manager Diego Simeone as one of the key reasons for him staying with the Rojiblancos. Per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, he recently reduced the length of his current contract, and he's expected to move to Inter Milan at some point in the near future:
That in turn has led to plenty more speculation regarding Griezmann, who firmly established himself as one of the top strikers in Europe last season and backed up his fine La Liga campaign with a solid showing for France at Euro 2016.
The 25-year-old has steadily improved since moving to the Spanish capital from Real Sociedad, where he often played in a wide role. Atletico use him as a part of a two-striker system, the perfect formation to make full use of his athleticism and dribbling skills.
Here's a look at some of his highlights:
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has preferred using formations with two strikers since his Juventus days, making Griezmann something of a perfect target. The Frenchman could pair with a physical option like Diego Costa or a pure poacher like Michy Batshuayi, and the tandem could have devastating effects.
There are also the links between Costa and former club Atletico―the Spain international recently revealed he wanted to go back to Madrid in an interview with Movistar (h/t Eurosport's Tom Adams). The interest was reportedly mutual, giving Chelsea a major bargaining chip.
David Ramos/Getty ImagesInterest in Griezmann will be high when he does decide to leave Atletico, with United and Arsenal willing to pay big transfer fees to land him. Simeone will also be a major factor if he's no longer with the club by that point―he could try to lure his star forward with him.
Elsewhere, Kessie's agent has told Goal's Chris Wheatley Arsenal have been watching his client, with Chelsea also said to be interested: “They [Arsenal] were here in Italy to watch him. Arsenal are a good team but there are a lot of teams interested in him so they’re not the only possible destination.
Tullio M. Puglia/Getty ImagesJuventus have also been linked with the emerging star, while the player himself has already stated he would love to play for United, per Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star.
The Atalanta man has started the season in sensational form, scoring four goals in Atalanta's first three Serie A matches. He made the move from defence to midfield while on loan with Cesena a year ago, and the switch has clearly paid off for the Ivory Coast international.
Here's a look at some of his highlights:
The 19-year-old is a raw but extremely gifted prospect with an incredibly high ceiling. Arsenal have invested heavily in young talents in the past few years, and Kessie would fit right in.
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