Chelsea are top of the Premier League having won nine games in a row and conceding just twice in that time since manager Antonio Conte switched to a back three.

The Blues struggled defensively in the earlier stages of the season, and conceded seven goals in three games back in September, but now they look like a totally different side.

Conte’s men have won nine successive Premier League games to go from tenth in the league to top, three points clear of second place Arsenal and six clear of third place Liverpool.

Victories over Manchester United, Tottenham, and Manchester City have outlined their clear title credentials, and up until their 2-1 win over Spurs a few weeks ago, they didn’t concede in the six previous victories.

They will hope to push home their advantage over the coming weeks, but Conte may feel that they still need a few more reinforcements to sustain a title challenge for the remainder of the season.

And, with the African Cup of Nations just around the corner, he may take a look at some of Africa’s most talented individuals, so here are TWO he should watch out for in the near future…

Franck Kessie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Oyepz6lhU

He is one of the brightest talents in Italian football at present, and Franck Kessie may well be making a move to the Premier League in the near future.

The 19-year-old midfielder has flourished in his first full season in Serie A, netting five times in 14 games for Atalanta, the latest of which coming in their 2-1 win over Roma on November 20.

The Ivorian international has also been a key figure in the national team in recent months, and could well be key to their African Cup of Nations chances when the tournament starts in January.

Unsurprisingly, Kessie’s excellent form and seamless transition into the top tier of Italian football has alerted numerous clubs around Europe, including Juventus, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

Recent reports suggest that it is Juventus who are in pole position to land the midfielder, but Conte knows that Chelsea have the appeal and the financial capabilities to encourage Kessie to move to Stamford Bridge.

Keita Balde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhNe_MJMDo0

One player who is making great strides at Lazio is 21-year-old Senegalese international Keita Balde, who made his debut for the club back in 2013 at the tender age of 18.

Since then, he has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Italian giants, netting 19 times, including four this season, the latest of which in their 1-1 draw away to Napoli on November 5.

Only Ciro Immobile has scored more than the young forward this season, and he is sure to play a big part in Senegal’s African Cup of Nations campaign next month, having started five times for his country this year and scored twice in their last three games.

Keita is a huge talent who is sure to keeping scoring goals and creating chances, so it might be worth Chelsea keeping tabs on him over the next few months in a bid to bolster their attacking options both for the present, and for the future.