Bad news for Chelsea as midfielder ‘could leave next summer’

Chelsea make the short trip to Brentford on Wednesday to face Thomas Frank’s side, with The Blues looking to extend their winning run to six games. 

Graham Potter has seen his side win five of his six games in charge so far, keeping clean sheets in each of their last four matches.

They now face a Brentford side that have won just once in their last four games.

Potter will once again be without both Reece James and N’Golo Kante, though, with the pair both set to miss the upcoming World Cup.

James was forced off against AC Milan last week, while Kante has already missed two months with a hamstring injury and is now set for a further layoff after a recent setback.

There could be more bad news for Potter in relation to the France international now, as he could reportedly leave the club at the end of the season.

Kante’s current contract is set to expire next summer, and the midfielder could leave The Blues upon the expiry of his deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Kante’s future remains in doubt

The Italian journalist claims that there is still no agreement in place between the 31-year-old and his current employers, although the player is reportedly happy to stay put in the capital.

He does also claim, though, that there is a realistic chance that Kante could leave Chelsea as a free agent next summer.

This season, the player made just two appearances – against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur – before a hamstring injury sidelined him.

The Frenchman joined Chelsea in 2016 after impressing during Leicester City’s Premier League triumph during the 2015/16 season, and he has since made more than 260 appearances for the club.

His injury record over the past few seasons will worry those in charge of Chelsea, though, as the midfielder has missed more than 50 games through injury since the start of the 2019/20 season, according to Transfermarkt.

That may have had an impact on Chelsea’s willingness to offer the player a new long-term deal, although it has previously been reported that an offer is on the table for the player.

Kante is believed to be holding out for a longer-term deal, while Chelsea also have the future of Jorginho to worry about, with the Italian also set to be out of contract at the end of the current season.