Former Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte who now manages Inter Milan had set his sights on N’golo Kante and made him the top priority for the summer transfer window.
Initial reports stated that the Nerazzuri’s were ready to generate funds via player sales in order to land the 29-year-old. Names of Milan Skriniar and even Christian Eriksen were mentioned as part of the players that could make way for Inter to fund the €50 million transfer fee for N’golo Kante. Inter are currently operating on a tight budget and had even offered Brozovic to the Blues as a part-exchange swap deal, an offer that Chelsea were not interested in.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was on BBC Radio 5 Live this week, when the hosts brought up the talk of reports stating that Kante was going to be sold by the club this summer.
Lampard dismissed the talks adding that the club was not listening to any offers for the midfielder, “I think pretty much every club in the world would want N’Golo Kante. I have seen those reports as well. He is an incredible player and person and I certainly don’t want to lose him. He’s fundamental in terms of what I’m trying to do.”
“We can obviously talk about the attacking players we have but someone like N’Golo and the work he does in midfield… It was a difficult year for him last year because of the injuries.”
“He came into the season with an injury and it was a domino effect through the year. It was probably a culmination of four or five years of games, so I’m really excited to have him fit. He looks fresh, he’s a big deal to me. Of course I want to keep N’Golo.”
There is no doubt that the midfielder had a difficult 2019/2020 and struggled to play at his usual self due to persistent injuries. However, on his day, the little Frenchman is the best defensive midfielder in the league by a mile, and Chelsea are right to keep him at the club. Lampard reiterated that Kante was still an important part of his plans and there is no doubt that N’golo will stay at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future.
