Chelsea are willing to get N’Golo Kante off the books as Frank Lampard looks to emulate Jose Mourinho’s template, says Ian McGarry.
Kante is one of the players who Chelsea are looking to offload in the summer to accommodate the new signings, with Inter Milan and Manchester United credited with an interest.
The 29-year-old midfielder played a pivotal role in the Blues’ triumphant 2016/17 Premier League campaign.
However, he has seen his influence on the team’s tactics dwindle following Frank Lampard’s appointment.
Moreover, several injury set-backs suffered throughout the 2019/20 season restricted Kante to just 20 Premier League starts.
Despite a lack of regular first-team opportunities last term, the World Cup winner has a host of admirers and will not find it difficult to sign a lucrative deal away from Stamford Bridge.
After shelling out over £200million on the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, and Kai Havertz, Lampard is now keen to trim his squad.
According to the transfer pundit Ian McGarry, the English manager has deemed Kante sellable and will be looking to cash in on him by the end of the transfer window.
“Chelsea are willing to let N’Golo Kante, a player who has been absolutely pivotal in a league-winning season for Chelsea, but they are willing to let him go,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast.
“Obviously, this comes with a bit of balancing the books because you don’t spend £230m in one window without having to trim your squad.
“We know that Lampard follows the Mourinho template of liking to work with a core 18 or 19 players for the majority of the season and playing those players consistently, making changes when he has to and rotating when he has to.
“I think Frank is keen to trim the squad and make sure he’s not got people hanging about as ‘bodies,’ as he calls them.
“My understanding is that Kante is very much settled in England and would be resistant to leaving.
“His current contract with Chelsea is a very good one – it was upgraded two years ago.
“He’s in no rush to leave Stamford Bridge or England for that matter.
“So that would be a persuasion on Chelsea’s part as well as perhaps a payment because he’s not going to be asking for a transfer anytime soon.
“I think he feels like he’s suffered a little bit in terms of a lack of game time last season.”
Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has identified Kante as a perfect addition to his midfield department. But, the Nerazzurri will first have to sell some of their first-team players to raise funds for the ex-Leicester City star.
According to reports, Inter’s decision to give up on Sandro Tonali’s pursuit has everything to do with Conte’s decision to focus on signing Kante.
Manchester United are also in the race, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced Donny van de Beek’s signing from Ajax only two days ago.
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