In hindsight, Leicester City’s €15.5 million purchase of French defensive midfielder Nampalys Mendy was an exact like-for-like replacement for the eventual sale of breakthrough star N’Golo Kante.
Not that Leicester City supporters will be okay with seeing Kante leave, especially to EPL rival Chelsea.
Kante started in 33 of Leicester’s 38 Premier League games last year, appearing as a substitute in four more. According to Squawka, Kante won the most tackles in the EPL last season.
Most tackles won in the Premier League in 2015/16:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 15, 2016
According to WhoScored, he also pitched in with 4.2 interceptions per game and created 24 chances throughout the season.
Such was the play of Kante throughout the course of the season that the saying “71 percent of the Earth is covered by water, the other 29 percent is covered by Kante” became a common piece of punditry.
It looks as though the squad that brought Leicester that improbable title won’t stick around to defend it. After telling Leicester officials he wanted to move to Stamford Brdige, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, ever the gentleman, told his star midfielder that the choice was entirely up to him.
Kante has reportedly been in touch with new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and looks increasingly set to make the £29.2 million switch and sign a five-year deal.
The good news for Leicester is that they’re set to make almost £25 million in profit from the sale. Leicester signed Kante from Caen for £5.5 million a year ago.
(H/T: The Guardian)
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