#360view: LCFC must ensure Kante exit doesn’t spark exodus

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  • N'Golo Kante wants France to keep improving

    Leicester’s dream season has been rapidly followed by the nightmare reality of modern day football.

    Boss Claudio Ranieri knew it was inevitable and the moment has now arrived. N’Golo Kante, their Player of the Year, has signed for Chelsea, and his departure could signal the beginning of a potential exodus for one of the greatest club sides in recent memory.

    Of course, Ranieri was under no illusions, suitors were always going to be stalking this summer and he said as much back in February, stating: “This is the right time for us to really push on because next season it won’t be the same.”

    And with Kante gone, that prophecy is now true. Leicester’s fairytale season, culminating in Premier League triumph, shook up the perceived natural order and the France international epitomised that, emerging as an unlikely hero after Esteban Cambiasso’s exit.

    But with the 25-year-old sealing a £32million (Dh155m) move to Stamford Bridge order has now been restored.

    Chelsea, even without Champions League football, are a blue chip club. The attraction of playing under Antonio Conte at one of the richest clubs in world football, is a temptation few can begrudge the former Caen midfielder for indulging in. Yes, some will feel another campaign at the King Power Stadium would have been wise but you have to take into account the unpredictability of what awaits the Foxes next season.

    There is no guarantee they will do well again and capitalising on his success now, avoids any unnecessary risk to his value. Were Leicester to toil with the extra exertions of Europe, his worth would have decreased and those same circling clubs may well have lost interest.

    For the defending champions, a wound has been opened and now they must stop the flow of blood. It’s crucial Kante’s exit does not create a domino effect whereby others follow his decision to opt for personal progression over loyalty because losing him could already spark a shift in system.

    The Frenchman was the hallmark of Leicester’s eulogised 4-4-2 formation because in effect, he was two players in one.

    Although much is made of his ability to do the dirty work, he produced more tackles (175) and interceptions (156) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues last season, there is more to his game than just winning the ball back. His energy and work-rate is unparalleled and it enabled Leicester to not only regain possession but also to break forward at speed.

    He’s football’s equivalent of a Swiss army knife and that willingness to drive into the final third and mount attacks set him apart from atypical defensive midfielders. In a team which springs into life on the counter-attack, Kante boasted the best pass accuracy, with a further 47 dribbles – third for the Foxes – and four assists from 30 chances created from open play. Clearly, he was an asset going forward as well as defensively and that’s not easily replaced.

    Nampalys Mendy’s arrival from Nice, a player in the same of ilk of Kante, eases the burden slightly but while he has a knack of picking the pockets of attackers, the 24-year-old does not have same ingenuity going forward.

    Ranieri now faces the toughest test of his Leicester reign because with Kante gone, others may follow with Riyad Mahrez understood to be keen to leave in the wake of the Frenchman’s departure.

    Should he move too, the nucleus of the squad will have devolved and it could develop into a similar situation Southampton faced a couple of season ago. Make no mistake, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater, Shinji Okazaki, Danny Simpson and Christain Fuchs are all likely to attract interest, too.

    Ranieri must convince them the grass is not greener or this upcoming season could be one to forget after one which will live long in the memory.

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