N’Golo Kante is reportedly willing to forego Champions League football to work with Italian manager Antonio Conte at Chelsea.
French midfielder N’Golo Kante has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs after playing a huge role for Premier League champions Leicester City this past season. The Foxes want to tie him down to a long term deal as the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea are keen to snap up the defensive midfield pivot.
However, negotiations have broken down as the 25-year-old is ready to reject Leicester’s £100,000 a week offer and move to a more established club, according to the Telegraph. The report goes on to state that while Juventus, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are looking to sign him, Kante wants to work under current Italy manager Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Conte will be joining Chelsea after Euro 2016 and is looking for midfield reinforcements as he looks to impart his philosophy at the club. At the Euros, the Italian manager’s tactics have yielded high rewards and guided the Azzuri to wins over Belgium and Spain. His expertise, especially when it comes to defence, could be a major reason behind the young midfielder’s admiration.
Kante was arguably the best defensive midfielder in Europe this past season. His tough tackling style helped Leicester City dominate the midfield and block out attacking play. Even the league’s top names found it hard to find a way past the 25-year-old. He has also tallied 156 interceptions, the highest in the top five European leagues.
The pair of Conte and Kante could revolutionize a faltering Chelsea team. The only task at hand for the new manager will be to help the Blues regain their status as one of the Premier League’s best clubs. Kante may have certain doubts about leaving the King Power Stadium, but with the opportunity of playing with some of the top names in the country, and working under a tactically astute pragmatist, the Frenchman might be tempted to leave Leicester City.