N’Golo Kante is a FIFA World Cup winner and one of the hardest-working midfielders in Europe. Somehow, Frank Lampard at Chelsea FC is misusing him.
According to a report from The Athletic, Lampard deployed several formations this season (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and 3-4-2-1) and while Chelsea averaged 57.4 percent possession, goals from their midfield players were few and far between.
Writers Tom Worville and Liam Twomey explain that the key to offensive success for Chelsea is getting their midfielders to move the ball forward to the team’s attacking players in a good area to score.
The numbers show that when Kante is in a midfield of three, his statistics take a hit when it comes to chances created, passes into the opposition’s final third, and progressive passes.
Unfortunately, while Chelsea under Lampard and Maurizio Sarri previously prefer a 4-3-3 formation, Kante thrives in a midfield of two. That’s how he helped France win the World Cup (alongside Paul Pogba).
Kante has been injured quite a bit this season but the 29-year-old is still considered one of the best midfielders in the world. With Financial Fair Play expected to be relaxed due to the coronavirus crisis and Chelsea willing to sell, Paris Saint-Germain could finally land the midfielder they’ve coveted for years.
According to recent reporting, Chelsea has put a price tag of €80M-€90M, which is too high for Juventus where Sarri would be keen on bringing his former player to Turin.
Kante doesn’t have the size that PSG’s sporting director would like but the chance to sign Kante and pair him with Marco Verratti might be too much for Leonardo to pass up.
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