Chelsea scout wonderkid who idolises Kante

Cameron Smith

• 7 Oct 2024 12:30 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea sent scouts to watch Hellas Verona midfielder Reda Belahyane in action this weekend, according to reports in Italy.

Belahyane joined the Serie A club from boyhood club OGC Nice in January and he has established himself as a key first-team player this season.

The 20-year-old has played 90 minutes in six of Hellas Verona’s seven league matches so far this campaign and his form has attracted interest from several top European clubs.

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According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, scouts from both Chelsea and Marseille were in attendance to watch Belahyane in action against Venezia on Friday evening as they eye a possible move in 2025.

The Morocco midfielder made three tackles and completed 50 passes - his highest tally in a single game so far this season - as his side ran out 2-1 winners to move up to 12th place in the Serie A table.

Belahyane still has over three-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract with Hellas Verona and while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just €2.8 million, the Italian side will likely demand a far higher fee to sanction a sale.

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However, Chelsea are interested in completing a deal as they continue to pursue the best young talents in world football.

N’Golo Kante inspiration

As per TuttoMercatoWeb, Belahyane bases his game on Chelsea legend and current Al-Ittihad star N’Golo Kante.

He recently admitted: “The number six is that of a midfielder. In my opinion it represents solid players, who scratch the ball away from opponents, but also know how to keep it.

“For me it represents my style of play. My role model, who sets an example both on and off the pitch, is N'Golo Kanté. I really like his team spirit. Even off the pitch he is always calm.

“But when he goes on the pitch he is aggressive. He has been my example since I was a child.”

Kante made 269 appearances for Chelsea during a seven-year stint at Stamford Bridge and he helped the club win six major trophies, including the Premier League and the Champions League.