Chelsea have started the 2019/20 campaign in impressive form given the club’s transfer ban from FIFA, but the west London side are reportedly set to have their resolve tested for one of their most important players.
Since departing the club earlier this year, former manager Maurizio Sarri has been linked with moves for the likes of Brazilian winger Willian, but the Italian and his new club Juventus are set to table an offer for the £70m-rated N’golo Kante, according to reports from The Guardian.
Kante, 28, has been a revelation since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in 2016, winning the Premier League and the Europa League to cement himself as one of Chelsea’s most important players.
The French international, who has won 38 caps for his country, won the World Cup in 2018 and the reigning Serie A champions under the management of Kante’s former boss are looking to add some steel to their midfield.
Having worked with Kante, Sarri will be extremely familiar with his unquestionable ability as a combative holding midfielder, though during his time in England the Italian boss chose to deploy the 28-year-old in a more advanced role, favouring Jorginho in the centrally defensive role.
Whether Sarri would opt to play Kante in a similarly attacking role within his new Juventus side remains to be seen, though it is unlikely that Chelsea would be willing to let go their midfield engine given his influence within their midfield.
If Juventus are able to acquire the Frenchman’s services, it would be a serious coup for the Serie A side and also a substantial blow for Chelsea, though especially given their current transfer ban from FIFA the bid from Juventus would have to be sizeable in order for Chelsea to even consider letting their combative midfielder depart the club.
