Is Conor Gallagher ready to replace N'Golo Kante at Chelsea?
Cameron Smith
- 15 Mar 2022 19:04 GMT
- 5 min read
N'Golo Kante has been one of Chelsea's greatest ever signings, there's no doubt about that.
Signed for £32 million from title winners Leicester City back in 2016, Kante immediately hit the ground running at Chelsea, winning the Premier League for a second consecutive season, while also winning the PFA Player of the Year, in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Playing alongside Nemanja Matic under Antonio Conte, the Frenchman was imperious in central midfield, with his energy enabling the Blues to regain possession so frequently, which allowed the likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro the time on the ball needed to show their quality.
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A consistent performer, Kante did suffer a slight drop off in performance under Frank Lampard's management, however, and his status as one of the Premier League's best midfielders came into question.
But, since Thomas Tuchel's arrival at Chelsea, Kante has been back to his best, winning the Man of the Match award in the Champions League semi final and the final itself, despite some lacklustre performances in the Premier League.
However, Kante is now 30 years old, and his body is clearly ageing. While he could always be relied upon for availability, despite his high-energy style of play, Kante is now seemingly always picking up slight niggles that see him miss a month here or a month there.
Since the start of the 2019/20 season, Kante has missed a total of 43 games through 13 separate injuries, which is extremely worrying, especially considering he'd missed just 11 games through injury in his senior career before then.
This injury record could, reportedly, prompt Chelsea to sell Kante in 2022. His contract expires in 2023, and no talks about a renewal have begun, which has sparked a murmur of exit talk.
This summer is the final chance for Chelsea to receive a transfer fee for the 2018 World Cup winner, and his age, contract situation, and injury issues could all combine to see Kante finally depart Stamford Bridge. His potential destinations could be limited, but one thing's for certain - his time at Chelsea doesn't look like it'll last much longer.
Another thing to consider is the sanctions placed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His UK assets have been frozen by the British government, which has had direct effects on Chelsea. The club can't sell or sign any players, nor can they renew contracts. Of course, these sanctions will end once Abramovich sells the club, but a timeframe hasn't been put on that.
It means Chelsea will be unable to add to their squad this summer, as things stand, while Kante's renewal talks won't be able to begin, pointing ever closer to a departure.
Who could replace Kante at Chelsea?
The Blues had been preparing for his departure, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Declan Rice both being scouted heavily by the club.
The pair were deemed as ideal replacements for Kante, with their ability to match his box-to-box attributes, defensive nous, and incredible fitness levels.
However, if Abramovich doesn't sell the club soon, and Chelsea aren't able to sign any players this summer, then they'll have to look within their own squad, and Thomas Tuchel could settle on one man.
Could Conor Gallagher replace Kante?
That man could be Conor Gallagher, who has been immense on loan at Crystal Palace this season.
It may be too soon for Gallagher to be a regular member of Chelsea's first-team, especially considering he's yet to make his senior debut for the club, he could be thrown in the deep end due to the current situation at Chelsea.
Mason Mount displayed how well a midfield academy graduate can perform when placed straight into the starting XI due to Chelsea's inability to sign players, and Gallagher could follow suit.
Like Mount, Gallagher has been out on loan since impressing for Chelsea's academy sides, joining Charlton, Swansea, West Brom, and now Crystal Palace.
At every one of those clubs, he has excelled as a No.8. Gallagher truly is a box-to-box midfielder, capable of playing any role in the centre of the pitch.
His time at West Brom was obviously a struggle by their poor form, but Gallagher stood out, and at Selhurst Park, he's continued that upward trajectory.
With eight goals and three assists in 25 league games for Palace, Gallagher has been a constant threat in the final third, but his work-rate has arguably been his most eye-catching attribute.
His goals have grabbed the headlines, but his defensive work has grabbed Tuchel's attention. The German head coach is reportedly a big fan, and was considering recalling Gallagher into the first-team before the sanctions were placed on Abramovich.
His performance at home to Premier League champions Manchester City was nothing short of spectacular, and would've shown Tuchel he has what it takes to pay at the very highest level.
Not only did he complete a match-high four dribbles, Gallagher ran 12.56km during the game, the most a Palace player has run in a single match all season; he didn't stop harrying the Manchester City backline and midfield, and admitted he was "struggling to talk and my legs have gone" in his post-match interview.
He isn't at Kante's level of defensive dominance yet, but Gallagher does have the engine and fitness to match the Frenchman, and with a little bit of coaching from Tuchel, he could be an excellent partner to Mateo Kovacic in the Chelsea midfield double pivot.
Not only that, but Gallagher has the final third ability that Kante hasn't ever displayed in a Chelsea shirt. He has only operated in a midfield three at Selhurst Park, so doubts may exist surrounding his ability to play in a double pivot as it will limit his pressing, and he'll need to be more disciplined, but at 22 years old he's got more than enough time on his side to learn that side of the game.
