The N'Golo Kante dilemma doesn't get any easier the longer it goes on. It's a situation Chelsea knew was coming. They would have foreseen it at least two years ago, probably longer, and made the choice to wait it out and see who blinks first, but they're playing this game against themselves.
Kante doesn't lose if Chelsea don't offer him a new deal. The chances are he goes to another European superpower, is needed in their midfield less than at Stamford Bridge, plays the handful of games at an absurd level of performance, wins his new team matches and Chelsea look like mugs for letting him go.
The reality is much more complex. Especially now with Graham Potter in charge, the real new beginning at the club would be to move on. Todd Boehly has changed the club from what it was when Kante joined and is attempting to set-up a plan for long-term efficiency.
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Given the brutal nature of moving so quickly on from Petr Cech, Marina Granovskaia and Thomas Tuchel, is it really that likely that Boehly will deal with Kante any differently? A player he did not buy, has no true affiliation with and, in a business standpoint, makes little sense.
Paying top end wages - with the player arguably worthy of a pay rise for his increasing standards when fit - for someone playing 50% of matches is not efficient. The new regime have a different mindset. Developing other midfielders and paying for young alternatives is a better long-term deal.
Chelsea are running out of time to make a decision. In January, Kante can negotiate a move abroad for the end of the season and there will be suitors. Potter hasn't seen him play a game yet and with the winter World Cup approaching he has a tiny window before January to make a massive call. Maybe that's why the Daily Mail are reporting that talks over a deal have stalled.
The new manager is in no position to make this choice himself, it's Boehly's inherited responsibility and if he decides that parting with Kante is the way forward then there is certainly logic behind it. It's written that Kante would like a mirrored deal to Kalidou Koulibaly, also 31. He was given a four-year contract this summer, Kante was offered two years in the latest round of talks. For Chelsea to go any higher on Kante is a risk given his recent injury record.
It's also expected that Boehly will be investing heavily into solving the puzzle around Kante. Even if he remains, Chelsea need at least one extra midfielder, maybe two. Jorginho could also leave and his weaknesses have once again been exposed, his value to the club on the field isn't increasing and tying him down to a new deal makes less sense than Kante.
The shortlist of targets is actually very long. Chelsea looked into late deals for Edson Alvarez on deadline day, and moved for Ibrahim Sangare at the same time. That was only after Frenkie de Jong [proved unattainable. If Chelsea could have signed Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham then none of the others would have been as heavily pursued. The issue is the price and availability of the English duo.
Rice was newly appointed as West Ham's official captain this season and still has two years on his current deal. Although Chelsea, who have been after Rice for three years, would have liked to bring him back to the club this summer his price was too high.
Rice is valued at at least £120million, and the Hammers were reluctant to have any talks. He will remain a top target for the club in 2023 though, according to 90min.
Bellingham likewise. He is expected to be the centre of a massive bidding war next summer and Chelsea will be in the mix. Their sneaky attempts to bypass the queue this year were unsuccessful, any deal for the 19-year-old is also expected to pass the £100million mark.
Although these are huge fees for two young players, their experience and performance levels on the international stage demonstrate their value. If a club was to sign Kante knowing what he might be, £100million may well be cheap in comparison. Chelsea are also hopeful that they can get Rice for less than that fee, especially as there would be just one year left on his deal when it gets to next July.
The revamp in midfield has to happen at some point for Chelsea. If they aren't willing to move on from Kante now with options there to replace him then Boehly and Potter will only be putting themselves in a tough situation in the future.
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