According to a recent report by the Evening Standard, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has dismissed rumours that the west London club are prepared to cash in on their French midfield star N’Golo Kante in the upcoming transfer window. There were supposedly multiple reports that the Premier League outfit would sell Kante if they found the need to raise more funds to utilise in the transfer market. With moves for Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell still on the cards, there’s no denying that Chelsea do need money to spend.
Clarifying that Chelsea are unwilling to sell N’Golo Kante, Lampard told Evening Standard, “I have seen some talks and reports about him and his future at the club. I have said it a lot of times about N’Golo, he is one of the best midfield players in the world and I would have loved to have played with him, the type of player he is, he has everything. Coming back to Chelsea and getting the opportunity to manage this club and having N’Golo here is something I want to work with and appreciate. N’Golo is so important to us as a team going forward that we need him regularly, and hopefully we will have that now.”
What Purpose Does N’Golo Kante Serve In This Chelsea Team?
Simply put, the Frenchman is this Chelsea team’s main source of energy and enthusiasm in the middle of the park. Not only does he provide excellent defensive positioning and cover, but he has also recently added attacking flexibility to his game too. The former Leicester City man’s ideal position would be as part of a double pivot, but with Frank Lampard preferring to use Jorginho as the single holding midfielder, Kante has had to settle into one of the more advanced roles.
What this has meant is that the Frenchman is a lot more involved in the team’s forward progression too. With that said though, it’s worth conceding that even from his advanced positions, the midfielder’s biggest contributions are in the defensive phase.
Adept at reading opposition play to cut out passes and make advanced interceptions, the 29-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best defensive-midfielders in the whole of the European game. Add in the fact that Kante has now started bringing goals and assists into the game too, and his influence in the side begins to look obvious.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Situation In Midfield?
The Blues boast what is arguably the strongest roster of midfielders in the whole of the Premier League, and Frank Lampard has been extremely fortunate to have inherited such a talented group of players. Apart from Kante, Lampard can call upon the likes of Jorginho, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and even young Billy Gilmour.
With a group of players like this available, the biggest worry for the manager going into every fixture will be selection. Each of the above names offers something different to Chelsea’s midfield, and collectively, they have the potential to achieve great things.
Chelsea Are Unwilling To Sell N’Golo Kante: Smart Move By Lampard?
Kante’s influence within this Chelsea team cannot be underplayed, and if it wasn’t for his involvement, the Blues would likely not have won any of the trophies that they’ve done over the last few years. Next campaign promises to be an exciting one for Chelsea fans, as the acquisitions of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will have a telling impact. Kante, renowned across Europe for his defensive attributes, is an important part of Lampard’s squad, and having him in the team next season will be a massive boost to their hopes and ambitions for the year.
