Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Danny Bloomer

Mauricio Pochettino granted first Chelsea wish amid key first-team star's contract hint

Mauricio Pochettino is set to be granted his first wish as Chelsea manager after N'Golo Kante's contract hint earlier this week.

Pochettino is set to be confirmed as Graham Potter's successor following an extensive period of talks that saw the former Spurs and PSG boss pip the likes of Julien Naglesmann and Luis Enrique to the post. As reported by the Telegraph earlier this week, Kante and Pochettino share a mutual admiration of each other, with both having been keen to work together for some time.

That said, Kante is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer and while talks are progressing over an extension, the Frenchman is yet to put pen-to-paper. Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this week, though, Kante dropped a hint that he will be staying at Chelsea beyond this season.

READ MORE: Chelsea's shock Todd Boehly Premier League transfer that did not come off in January

He said: "For sure. It's an exciting project for the club. Unfortunately this season hasn't been to Chelsea's standards. But everyone wants to go in this way, the way of success and winning titles.

"I hope this club will again fight in this direction. Let's see where I will be but I hope that this is a change for the club, that is most important."

Once Pochettino is finally announced, that will be a huge early boost for the Argentine with Kante featuring on a five-man list of players he is wanting to build his team around. According to the Daily Mirror, Kante, along with Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill will play a huge part of his project.

As was evident in his days at Tottenham, Pochettino likes his sides to play a high intensity, pressing game and Kante's engine makes him the perfect fit.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.