Robin Gosens passnotes: Who is the Atalanta left back linked with Chelsea?

Chelsea have been prioritising a left-back for quite some time with neither Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri becoming indispensible under Frank Lampard.

Blues fans had been crying out for the them to snare Leicester's England international Ben Chilwell, who would appear to be the perfect fit as a young, homegrown star - but now the Chelsea boss appears to have other plans after the emergence of an exciting talent in Serie A.

Atalanta's Robin Gosens has flown steadily under the radar in the last few years but in a season that has seen the club soar up the table and become one of the most dangerous sides in Europe, the 26-year-old has caught the eye for scouts hunting a new full-back.

Ten goals and eight assists is an impressive feat for any player across a season - for a left back it's exceptional. Now reports in Germany claim Lampard is planning to put the signing of Gosens at the top of his list with Atalanta set to sell up for just £27million.

Sportsmail takes a look at Gosens' career, what makes him so appealing to Chelsea and what he could offer the Blues next season.

Who is Robin Gosens?

Born in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany, close to the Dutch border, Gosens eventually joined the academy of Eredivisie side Vitesse after failing to win a contract at Dortmund following a trial.

But Gosens, who is eligible to play for both Holland or Germany, never ended up playing a game for Vitesse and was instead loaned to second division side FC Dordrecht in January 2014. He performed well across 16 appearances to help them win promotion to the top flight. That earned himself another season there as he played a further 33 games and scoring three goals.

His showing had perked up the attention of fellow Eredivisie side Heracles, who were able to snap him up on a free transfer in 2015.

Another two solid years followed with 70 games under his belt and five goals - before Serie A came calling in 2017, as he joined Atalanta for just £1m.

It was in Italy where he really came alive, knuckling down a first-team spot and gaining experience in both the Europa League and Champions League - something which Chelsea will value hugely.

What is his style of play?

When you think of a No 8 you imagine exciting midfielders like Steven Gerrard or Lampard - and that's what Gosens offers - energy and excitement.

Atalanta's No 8 is not a central midfielder, but that doesn't stop him pushing forwards at every opportunity, eager to pick someone out with a perfectly timed cross and shooting on sight at the right opportunity.

An attacking wing-back in Atalanta's 3-5-2 system, he almost has a striker's instinct with the way his charges into the box looking to get on the end of crosses - his nine goals this season are the product of that intent. The German fancies himself from range and occasionally goes for the spectacular.

He looks to be evolving his game and we could see him deployed much further up the pitch or even in a left wing role in the future.

Gosens is similarly aggressive in the tackle - winning possession high up the pitch and seeking to hit the opposition on the counter. He also enjoys a last-ditch tackle in his defensive third but is equally adept at biding his time and sticking a foot in to calmly defuse a dangerous attack.

How has he got on this season?

Rather well. Gosens in an undisputed member of this Atalanta side that have been laying waste to most teams they have come across this season after charging their way to the Champions League quarter-finals. They sit third in Serie A having scored an astounding 96 goals.

Gosens has more than played his part and picking up where he left off after the season restart with three goals and two assists. He registered those totals from the whole of the last campaign, so his performance levels have seen a massive step up.

Atalanta's system relies heavily on attacking play from their wing-backs and Gosens has been a particular focal point - getting involved in a number of devastating attacks.

While strikers Josep Illicic, Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata get most of the plaudits, a lot of their play goes through Gosens and the fact he is on double digits for goals is exceptional. While not as pacy, his knack for goalscoring at left back is reminiscent of Gareth Bale when he was starting up Tottenham.

He's played nearly every game in the Champions League this season as they finished second to Manchester City and started both matches against Valencia in the knockout stages. And he's set to be a crucial part of the side as they go up against PSG in the quarters.

Who wants him?

Chelsea are thought to be the front runners, and as they've shown with their signing of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, their financial muscle is hard to compete with when they make an approach for a player - especially during these times.

But Inter Milan are also said to be monitoring his performances after a standout year for Atalanta. Manager Antonio Conte doesn't have a solid option at left back and has been forced to play the ageing Ashley Young there at times - so Gosens would be an ideal player to fill in and someone who knows the league too.

Juventus have also been touted as a possible destination, with Maurizio Sarri only having one out and out left back this season in Alex Sandro, meaning the arrival of Gosens would help with competition for places.

What has Gosens said about his future?

Despite reported interest from a host of clubs, the player himself said Bundesliga side Schalke were his 'favourite club' and admitted he would like to be part of their 'rebuilding' job.

But he conceded the current climate would make any transfer away from Atalanta difficult, adding that while he was happy at the club, he was keen to return to Germany at some point.

David Wagner's men are thought to have made a bid for Gosens last year - agreeing personal terms with the player but baulking at Atalanta's £10m asking price.

'What do I see in my future? It is incredibly difficult to answer this question,' he told German broadcaster Sport1.

'Covid-19 has caused uncertainty in all the clubs. I'm not worried, of course I've heard some rumors about myself, but to be associated with so many top international clubs right now seems crazy.

'And it still creates some disbelief that you have the quality to play in these clubs.'

'If I decide to change teams, the important thing for me is to find a sporting project that suits me. I've always said that Schalke is my favourite club.

'The people in charge there talked about rebuilding and it would be nice to be part of it in some way. Schalke has had difficult years, but it is still one of the big clubs with a big fan base.'

'At Atalanta I'm happy, but I've never hidden the fact that I'd like to go and play in Germany. I don't know when that might happen.'