EXCLUSIVE
Robbie Savage thinks that the £32 million spent by Chelsea to sign N'Golo Kante from Premier League champions Leicester City was a bargain price - as he sees the Foxes struggling since the sale, while the Blues top the table.
The 25-year-old has been just as central to Chelsea's title charge this term as he was for Leicester last season, and has played in all but one of his side's league games - after missing Bournemouth's visit to Stamford Bridge due to suspension.
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Savage played 172 games for Leicester in central midfield and has gone on to become a football pundit for BT Sport. He thinks that Kante's absence hurts his former club, but has been surprised with just how obvious and severe it has been.
"Yes, you can see some of the prices for other players and it was only £32 million for a guy who was instrumental in a 5000/1 side to win the Premier League [and went on to win it]." He told Goal ahead of Chelsea's trip to Leicester City on Saturday. "And his fee, for me, was very cheap.
"He was a huge influence [at Leicester], huge. His protection for [Wes] Morgan, [Robert] Huth and the full-backs was great and as Leicester concede more goals this year, it goes to show the benefits on the Chelsea side.
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"I still believe that [Riyad] Mahrez was the best player in the Premier League last year, due to his assists and goals. Leicester aren’t scoring goals this year as well - did Kante offer anything in that way?
"I think he allowed those forward players to be more expansive because they knew he’d be here, there and everywhere. So they have missed him and I am surprised at how much they have missed him.
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"It is incredible really to think what everyone now says about Kante, and it is rightly so, but it is surprising that they have missed him so, so much."
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Watch Leicester City v Chelsea live on BT Sport 1 on Saturday 14th January from 5pm. Visit btsport.com for more info.
