Since last term, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante has suffered a string of injury issues.
In a bid to bring Chelsea at par with Manchester City and Liverpool, manager Frank Lampard is planning some major reshuffle this summer with Pedro and Willian almost certain to break their long-term association with the club.
Lampard is keen to inject some freshness to the group which has undergone the demanding regimes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Maurizio Sarri in past seven seasons. For that, former Chelsea midfielder is keen to replace his seasoned campaigners with players whose careers are on the upward trajectory.
Thus far, Chelsea, since last summer, have managed to gain the services of Christian Pulisic, Mateo Kovacic, Hakim ZIyech, and Timo Werner. Among the academy prospects, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, and Billy Gilmour have been added to the senior setup.
As things stand, Frank Lampard is planning on a few more addition before concluding his summer business, and recently, Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz has been a priority for the London outfit.
Update @kaihavertz29 & @ChelseaFC: Havertz wants to leave @bayer04fussball already this summer because the club has not qualified for Champions League. Because of that it would be important for @ChelseaFC to qualify for Champions League to convince him
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) July 12, 2020
Given the financial uncertainty surrounding the football industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chelsea are planning to generate extra funds by sanctioning a slew of departures in the impending transfer market.
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N’Golo Kante, one of the elite members of the Chelsea squad, has been a point of discussion for the Chelsea faithful for past few months. After helping the London club to win three trophies during his stay, the World Cup winner is currently struggling to find a consistent match rhythm due to recurring injury issues.
Kante, 29, has also struggled to find his feet when bestowed with an advanced role in a three-man midfield system. Age is also said to be a factor as Frank Lampard is keen to build his project on a younger clutch of players.
Previously, Frank Lampard denied rumours of selling N’Golo Kante to generate transfer funds for summer business. But the situation now seems to suggest otherwise.
"“In terms of N’Golo, I’ve seen some talk and reports about him and his future at the club,”“I’ve said it a lot of times about N’Golo – one of the best midfield players in the world. I would have loved to be able to play with him. He has everything.”“Coming back to Chelsea and having N’Golo Kanté is something I really want to appreciate and work with. Because of injuries, it’s been tough for N’Golo. It’s nice to see him a little bit fresh. N’Golo is so important to us going forward. We need him regularly and hopefully, we’ll have that now.” (Quotes via The Guardian)"
The France international’s first manager at Chelsea, Antonio Conte, is eager for a reunion at Inter Milan as the midfielder suits the Italian manager’s mechanical system. After missing 13 league games this season, developments suggest Lampard not considering Kante a vital part of his Chelsea project.
As per reports emerging in Italy(Gazetta Dello Sport via Sport Witness), N’Golo Kante could be sold by the London club should a suitable offer arrives their table. Citing this transfer, Inter Milan are said to be interested in the services of the midfield engine.
It’s understood that Chelsea would anticipate a bid of around 65 million Euros to consider severing ties with N’Golo Kante this summer. Considering status-quo, the transfer could be a win-win situation for all parties.
After Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who do you think will arrive at Chelsea this summer?