Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante is reportedly set to turn down a new contract offer and choose to accept a move to Chelsea this summer.
The French ace is currently on international duty at Euro 2016, and has continued to impress after playing an influential role in the Foxes’ Premier League title-winning campaign last season.
In turn, it’s no surprise that he has attracted significant attention from around Europe, although according to The Independent, he’s set to snub both Arsenal and Manchester United in favour of a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Juventus and Real Madrid have also been paired with an interest, but the fact that the 25-year-old is keen on working with Antonio Conte, as noted by reports, shows just how much pulling power the Italy boss has in the transfer market currently.
Conte is continuing to impress with his tactics and overall approach at Euro 2016, and he will be eyeing significant reinforcements at Chelsea when he arrives to start work in west London.
Having seemingly failed in his bid to prise Radja Nainggolan away from Roma, Conte needs to bring in a midfield enforcer, as such a player has been a hallmark of his success throughout his managerial career thus far.
From Arturo Vidal to Daniele De Rossi, the 46-year-old places great importance on having a defensive midfielder capable of setting the tempo for his team on the pitch and winning the midfield battle with his intensity and quality on the ball.
Kante ticks those boxes, and with a £20m release clause in his contract, he could be the ideal player for Chelsea next season, although the Blues will be wary of sparking an auction with their initial bid as others still remain interested.
There is a lack of steeliness and energy in Chelsea’s midfield currently, and Kante would fit in perfectly alongside the more creative individuals in the squad to provide the right mix.
Conte has proven this summer that he doesn’t necessarily need the best players to succeed as it’s more about the team. However, he needs a midfield general to carry out his ideas onto the pitch for him and set the tempo for the rest of the team, and Kante is certainly the man for the job.