Chelsea's five options to replace Kante

FT Desk

• 20 Oct 2022 08:56 BST
• 4 min read

N'Golo Kante is injured and out of contract at the end of the season. Who might replace the French World Cup-winner at Chelsea?

Kante emerged as one of the best players in the world in his position over the last few years, from humble beginnings in the lower reaches of French football to a Premier League winner with both Leicester and Chelsea.

But he is now 31, and, more importantly, increasingly injured, with knee and hamstring problems obstructing his progress at Stamford Bridge. PSG are increasingly linked with a move for the Paris-born player.

If he did go, how would Chelsea replace him? Football Transfers takes a look…

Frank Kessie

Franck Kessie's Barcelona career already looks to be over before it has started. The Ivorian joined the Blaugrana on a free transfer from AC Milan in the summer, but has quickly fallen behind youngster Gavi and Pedri in the midfield pecking order, while Frenkie de Jong staying hasn't helped his cause either.

Kessi is the most similar player to Kante statistically according to Football Transfers' partner, SciSports, and Barca could be willing to settle for less than the €40.1 million he is rated at as the look to balance the books by offloading fringe players.

Mohamed Camara

Mohamed Camara has hit the ground running at Monaco since swapping Red Bull Salzburg for the principality this summer, looking like a fine replacement for Aurelien Tchouameni, who joined Real Madrid for €100m.

Monaco almost never hold onto their players when a significant bid arrives for them, and while Chelsea might need to go beyond the €18m he is rated at by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, he is unlikely to be out or reach.

Naby Keita

Naby Keita, like Camara, has a similar profile to Kante - a low centre of gravity and an asset on both sides of the ball. He is also, like Kante, out of contract at the end of the season, with his deal at Liverpool running down.

Keita to Chelsea may appear to be a left-field move, but it would simultaneously weaken a Premier League rival whilst adding a useful player to the Blues squad, one whose skill-set they could do with.

Denis Zakaria

Of course, Chelsea could just make Denis Zakaria's loan deal from Juventus permanent. The Switzerland midfielder was signed as cover for Kante by Thomas Tuchel, days before the German was sacked by new owner Todd Boehly.

Zakaria is yet to feature under Tuchel's successor, Graham Potter, although the new man recently talked him up. "He's an important member of the team," he said. "He's being patient and trying to help the team from the side at the moment. He's waiting for a chance."

Billy Gilmour

Last, but by no means least, is Billy Gilmour, who was once regarded as Chelsea's most promising academy graduate. The young Scot was desperately unlucky this summer in moving to Brighton in pursuit of first-team minutes days before Potter went the other way.

Potter clearly rates Gilmour, and while buying back a player rated at €13m you sold for £9.36 million (€10.7m) a relative 10 minutes ago might be unorthodox, it could prove to be a bigger mistake not united Potter and Gilmour once and for all.