Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Top Players Targeted by Antonio Conte

Chelsea are reportedly edging closer to signing Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante, one of the standout performers of the Foxes’ monumental Premier League title-winning campaign of 2015/16.

That’s according to beIN Sports journalist Tancredi Palmeri, who tweeted that the Blues are in advanced talks with Kante over a summer move:

Back in May, French newspaper L'Equipe (via Mark Brus for Metro.co.uk) reported Chelsea were willing to better the Frenchman's £20 million release clause, and it seems they've stumped up the funds to break Leicester's resistance.

However, Palmeri revealed Kante won’t officially move away from the King Power Stadium until after UEFA Euro 2016, which gives manager Claudio Ranieri the chance to convince him to stay.

Leicester performed heroics to win the Premier League last term, but holding onto their prized assets will be difficult this summer.

As per Stuart James of the Guardian, Arsenal have met striker Jamie Vardy’s release clause, while PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez will likely draw some high-profile suitors throughout the transfer window.

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Kante was something of an unsung hero for Leicester last term, doing all the dirty work and allowing the club’s flair players to steal the headlines.

His brilliance didn’t go completely unnoticed, though, and with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho looking to bring Nemanja Matic to Old Trafford, per Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail, Chelsea may need to recruit some midfield reinforcements.

Landing Kante, who has been dubbed the new Claude Makelele, would be a great way to start the rebuilding process.

Leicester City fan Gary Lineker thinks so, too, as he said Kante could walk into any team on the planet, per Dave Fraser of the Sun:

"

It’s going to be very hard to keep Kante. He’s unbelievable. He covers every blade of grass. I don’t think there’s a team in the world he wouldn’t get into. He’d be first on my team sheet—well, apart from the obvious pair.

What’s remarkable about him, with the amount of interceptions and tackles he makes, is that never goes on the floor.

He comes out of everything with the ball. He’s like Makelele but... better.

"

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Chelsea have struggled to find a long-term replacement for Makelele, whose name became a byword for the holding-midfield position, since he left in 2008, but they could finally have their man.

From inspiring transfer news to something of a head-scratcher, as Chelsea have also been linked to misfiring Liverpool frontman Christian Benteke.

According to Matt Hughes of the Times (via Brus), Chelsea could make a move for Benteke if they fail to lure Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge from Everton.

Brus wrote that Lukaku is rated at £65 million, while fellow Belgian Benteke would likely be available for around half of that price.

Needless to say, Chelsea fans aren’t too impressed with the news, as TalkSport revealed:

Changes need to be made at Stamford Bridge if the Blues are to return to the top of the English and European trees, and Kante would be a great addition to the cause.

But incoming manager Antonio Conte needs a lot more than a holding midfielder, with frontmen and defenders also looking like essential purchases.