Chelsea: Kante update; talented Brazil international linked; youngster departs

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Antonio Conte will face the press for the first time as Chelsea manager this afternoon. As was the case during Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola’s first press conferences, Conte will undoubtedly be asked who his main targets are during this transfer window. Although he will likely be coy on the matter, the former Italy manager does already appear to have a number of targets in mind for his new-look Chelsea side.

Over the past few days it has emerged that one of these targets is Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante. Reports in France are today claiming that Chelsea have tabled a £29 million bid for the midfielder and are hoping for some progress on the deal over the course of the weekend. It is claimed that senior figures at Leicester are now considering the offer from their pre-season training camp in Austria.

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The 25-year-old was a crucial component of the Foxes title-winning side and they will not allow him to leave easily. However, it is looking likely that Kante will join one of Europe’s top clubs this summer, something which former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has also encouraged him to do. The Blues are likely to face competition for the player’s signature, with Real Madrid and Chinese club Shanghai SIPG also apparently interested.

Conte’s job is made harder by the fact that Chelsea failed to qualify for Europe this season. This will obviously make it more difficult for him to attract the continent’s best players, but the Italian will hope that Kante looks beyond this season and focuses on the potential of a long-term future at Stamford Bridge when making his decision.

Meanwhile, Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa has also been linked with a switch to West London. The 19-year-old, who currently plays for Santos in his homeland, will line up for his country at this summer’s Olympics and is seen as one of South America’s highest-rated emerging youngsters.

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Commonly referred to by his nickname – Gabigol – The Daily Mirror claim that the player has declared his interest in a move to Chelsea, although Juventus have already made their move for the prodigy. The report suggests that the Blues have made a bid of £25 million in an attempt to lure the player to Stamford Bridge, but Barbosa’s current employers also remain confident that they can persuade him to stay.

Barbosa was a member of Brazil’s Copa America squad this summer, scoring once in a 7-1 demolition of Haiti, and may feel like a move to Europe is the next logical step in his progression as a player. A move to Chelsea would see him join fellow Brazilians Oscar, Willian, Kenedy, and the chance to learn and train alongside his compatriots may ultimately work in Chelsea’s favour during negotiations.

Finally, one man who won’t be a part of Conte’s plans for the time being is defender Tomas Kalas, who is heading out on loan again, this time to Championship side Fulham.

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There had speculation that the Czech defender would rejoin Middlesbrough, where he has spent the last eighteen months, but he has instead opted to join the Cottagers on a season-long loan deal. The 23-year-old helped Boro to promotion last season and has already stated that is hoping for a similar outcome with his new side.

Kalas made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in that famous 2-0 win over Liverpool in April 2014, when Steven Gerrard’s slip cost the Merseyside club the chance to win the title. It was an extremely impressive performance from the youngster and many expected big things in the ensuing months. However, since then he has been overtaken by Kurt Zouma as Chelsea’s young defensive hope, and another loan seems to suggest that he will have to move on next summer. If the last few years are anything to go by then Kalas will not be the last of the temporary departures from Stamford Bridge, with 37 Chelsea players having spent time out on loan at some point last season.

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