Chelsea transfer news: The Blues face a big contract dilemma this summer and an extra reason to be cautious has occured.
Much was made of Manchester United's decision to allow Paul Pogba to leave the club for free for a second time in ten years, five after paying a league record fee to re-sign him. It meant that after 2012 they let the mercurial talent go free, watch him blossom into one of the most well-rounded midfielders on the planet, signed him back for £91m, fail to get the best from him and then watch him go again.
Despite Juventus getting nearly 200 games out of one of football's great enigmas for the price of just his wages, they may not have ended up winning this scenario. Nobody has. Pogba, at 30, is struggling physically and has missed 123 games through injury since 2019. He has played 91 for his two clubs in the same period.
It is a shame to see one of the game's best talents and entertainers held back by the shackles of his body. Whether he had issues that went beyond mismanagement at Manchester United or not is besides the point, here is a player that hasn't just fallen from the top like many, he has remained there but mostly from the outside looking in.
For Chelsea it is a warning. Not only did Pogba always appear destined to play at Stamford Bridge one day, with talk of how he would fit in under Thomas Tuchel had he decided to swap Old Trafford for west London last summer, but because of the threat of injury.
Didier Deschamps' team was ravaged by a fitness plague. Raphael Varane and Karim Benzama joined those out of action. Christopher Nkunku was ruled out in training before the tournament and Lucas Hernandez didn't last the competition. The core was ripped out and the writing on the wall.
Chelsea are toying with the idea of having Kante, who seduces people with the very idea that he will be fit. Even Kante for half the games can be a major asset but you cannot control when and where the ugly head of injury crops up anymore. Protecting him for one game doesn't reduce the chance of him breaking down the next.
The wage structure is changing, the dynamics of the squad are moving and Kante is a player that fits neither firmly into the plans or the pile of players waiting to be let go. Chelsea would need to replace Kante if he were to be set free this summer - their need for a new midfielder extends beyond his future anway but another body would be needed without him. Does this matter?
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