Chelsea will be facing life without Champions League football next season after failing to secure a top four finish despite having some great opportunities to do so last term. It will be up to manger Antonio Conte, if he is still in the job, to secure Champions League football next season either via the top four or winning the Europa League trophy. However, if the rumours are to be believed that they are about to lose their midfield maestro it could be a disastrous season for them.
Their tireless midfielder N’Golo Kante has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge despite only joining the club two years ago. With clubs such as PSG and Real Madrid sniffing around then Chelsea will have to be on top of their negotiations game to keep their man and convince him to spur the advances of two sides in the Champions League next season.
Kante is one of the only players in Premier League history to win back to back Premier League titles with different clubs having done so with Leicester and Chelsea. This feat should not be overlooked as he was the catalyst for both sides in their title winning seasons. With the amount of work he does in midfield it allows the flair players to excel in their role and even though he sometimes gets overlooked he is vital to the success of his side.
It is no wonder that PSG and Real want to acquire him after standout performances once again this year and he even did it on the big stage. Take for example the F.A Cup final against Manchester United, he sat in front of his defence and his constant movement made it incredibly difficult for United to break down the stubborn Chelsea defence. He intercepted nearly everything he could and frustrated the Red Devils all day. A man of the match performance helped them grab a 1-0 win.
It is not just his club football where he is admired, he is also recognised as one of the best French players heading into the World Cup. Despite names like Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann likely to grab the headlines, Kante is the one they should be thanking. He was part of the team that made the Euro 2016 final and is expected to play a major role in the progression of Les Bleus this summer.
So it has to be Chelsea’s number one aim this transfer window to hold onto such a gifted and valuable member of their squad. Despite bringing in Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater neither of them will do the work of Kante nor will they be as useful as him on the pitch. However, having won the Premier League, twice, and the F.A Cup Kante may be looking further afield. With Real already the Champions of Europe and PSG desperate to get their hands on the trophy he may just be tempted to leave London for another capital.
