If you have not lived under a cliff in recent years, you will know that there is this guy named N’Golo Kante who is pretty good at the whole “football”.
The Frenchman has defied all logic with his tireless playing style for a few years but took things to a new level in last season’s Champions League, where he picked out the man of the match in both legs of the semi-final and final.
Kante has been crucial for Chelsea / David Ramos / Getty Images
Kante is a unique monster, but over in France there is someone who does his best to challenge his throne. Ange Aurelien Tchouameni.
Tchouameni is a defensive do-it-all in the form of Kante and has just finished a fantastic season with Monaco that got him to take the award for Ligue 1’s best young player in front of some big names, including Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga.
The tall 21-year-old turned out to be the complete package last season. In the defensive part, he ranked second in Ligue 1 for most tackles, fourth for interceptions and others for successful pressure. Going forward, he finished 12th for progressive sessions, 16th in berries and 26th in completed sessions.
What we saw from Tchouameni was a young player who is proud to defend, but is just as ready to move forward when the opportunity arises. It’s not a polished style of play, but it’s about as close to Kante as you will find today.
Kante vs Tchouameni. Must be a priority signing this summer considering he’s not that expensive #CFC #TransferNews pic.twitter.com/QP8wHNmmZC
– Suyash ★★ (@SuyashCFC) June 6, 2021
He is athletic with relentless endurance and can combine the elite’s defensive consciousness with dangerous movement in attack, and he does all this in a body that is eight inches taller than Kante.
Now 30 and still breastfeeding a sketchy injury record, Chelsea must prioritize someone who can fill in (and ultimately replace) Kante without injuring the rest of the team. Tchouameni is one of very few players on the planet who can do that.
Chelsea are aware of Tchouameni, and according to The Athletic, they are “seriously” considering launching a bid for the Monaco star, whose fall is exacerbated by the fact that he would cost close to 70 million pounds less than another top target, West Ham’s Declan Rice.
There is no denying that what Rice has done in recent seasons is special, and his performances with England this summer showed exactly why scouts rate him so highly, but there are concerns about how he would fit into the current Chelsea side.
Chelsea are among the suitors for Rice / Pool / Getty Images
Rice is more like an anchor and is comfortable to sit deep and recover the ball and kick off attacks. It is a similar role to Jorginho, who has been so good since Thomas Tuchel joined Chelsea that his name is thrown around in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Jorginho will not be benched for Rice right now, and playing the two together would be too defensive. There is no obvious place for the West Ham man, especially if it will cost £ 100 million to get him.
Somewhere along the line, if Rice gets cheaper, Chelsea should definitely go for him. They could do with an anchor in the form of Nemanja Matic – a need that will only grow as Jorginho ages – and Rice would fit the bill perfectly, but £ 100 million is too much right now.
There is a place for Tchouameni in the team / John Berry / Getty Images
The need for Tchouameni is greater, and when he is 70 million pounds cheaper, it seems like a good idea for Chelsea.
Tchouameni is there to take on Chelsea, who can nurture him and help him hit Kante-esque heights. The £ 30 million they paid for Kante has long been seen as one of the greatest finds in modern memory, and a similar outlay on Tchouameni would be just as effective.
