Chelsea have been linked to several midfielders since the season ended and most importantly since Conte was announced as manager. The thing is that until the Italian manager is relieved of his international duties, it is all going to be speculation. Some news sounds more possible than the other especially with players starting to admit they have been contacted by the Blues. The first big name who is expected to Stamford Bridge is Roma’s Radja Nainggolan. Despite all rumors of his transfer to Chelsea being dispelled up until now, recent statements point towards a possible agreement. According to The Daily Express the Belgium international said: “They want to strengthen and moreover you have a coach like Conte who has always wanted to sign me. There has been contact between the two clubs, but as long as there is no agreement reached, I’ll stay well out of it. Chelsea are a great team and it’s good to be appreciated by them. I am very happy at Roma. They appreciate what I do for the club, everyone likes me as a player and a person, so that is very important to me.” Even so, the fact that Nainggolan is now going to spend a lot of time with Hazard at Euro 2016 and that Conte seems to be one of his favorite managers could lean the balance in favor of the Blues.

Nainggolan is not the only midfielder Chelsea are interested in right now. Leicester’s N’Golo Kante is also on the Blues’ radar. The 25-year-old France international is apparently waiting for Euro 2016 to end as he is fully focused on winning the trophy with his national team. Rumors have it that discussions between him and the club are pretty advanced. All that is left is for him to return from France and put pen on paper. Kante was one of the best midfielders of the 2015-2016 season and could offer some serious competition to players like Matic, Obi Mikel or even Fabregas. He is under contract with Leicester until 2019 and his transfer would bring the Foxes a massive profit. They paid around £5million for Kante who will now cost Chelsea 5 times as much. He would be worth every penny though. Seeing his dedication for Leicester was impressive and it could be exactly what the Blues were missing. Someone to run more than any other opponent, someone who does not back down from one on one duels and someone who can do both the defensive and the offensive phases of the game.