Lampard changes stance on Chelsea ace, as Serie A giants hover

Frank Lampard TEAMtalk

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is now willing to listen to offers for N’Golo Kante after becoming frustrated with the midfielder’s injury problems, claims a report.

France midfielder Kante had always considered to be a mainstay at Stamford Bridge and untouchable, but there has been a softening of Chelsea’s stance on the player.

Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport now report that Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for the player due to Kante’s recent history with injuries.

The 29-year-old is under contract until 2023 and he would command a big price tag, but a series of injuries this season have seen him start just 20 Premier League games.

The report claims Lampard is open to selling Kante and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte wants to swoop for his services.

Kante and Conte won the Premier League together for the Blues and the Italian boss remains a fan of the player.

 

 

 

Lampard did speak about Kante’s latest injury after the defeat at Sheffield United.

“I would see how we are pre-season, but this season he missed pre-season. We will just have to take stock. This one is a small injury,” he said.

 

‘Managing’ Kante

N'Golo Kante, Frank Lampard Chelsea TEAMtalk

On Friday though ahead of the game, Lampard discussed “managing” the star.

“I am happy to look at managing a player like him, with the level he has reached in previous years in his career.

“That will be a very open conversation between myself and N’Golo and our strength and conditioning coach and our medical team.

“The big issue this season was that he came to pre-season injured and missed a massive part of the season, ‘We tried to quickly get him fit for the Super Cup and he was incredible in his performance [against Liverpool] but he was still struggling.

“That has been a domino effect for him. It’s time to take stock in this period.

“The injury he has got now is not really related to the serious nature of the knee injury he had coming into the season. ‘It’s a small injury which is probably more down to the games played and the lack of pre-season.”