MANCHESTER UNITED were silly not to make a move for Chelsea star N’Golo Kante when they had the chance.
That is the view of former Premier League star-turned-pundit Keith Andrews.
Kante signed for Chelsea from then-champions Leicester for £32million in the summer of 2016.
Jose Mourinho splashed out £89m to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford, but serious doubts have been harboured over the French midfielder who has struggled for consistency since joining from Juventus.
Kante has bossed the middle of the park for the Blues, but Andrews is surprised United didn’t do more to land Kante and thinks Mourinho missed a trick.
“He is the best in the business at winning the ball back and keeping things simple. In terms of the contract, no-brainer,” Andrews said on The Debate.
“You’ve only got to look at the way France celebrated in the World Cup final, lifting him up, that’s what he means to them. He’s been that good.
“And how cheap was he each time… £5.5m to Leicester and even £32m to Chelsea.
“How Manchester United didn’t go and get him to partner Pogba in midfield, I have no idea.”
Kante is in talks over a new deal with the west London outfit.
United have been linked with a move, but reports suggest the Blues are hoping to tie Kante down to a new five-year, £290,000-a-week contract extension.
Meanwhile, Chelsea could lose Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the January transfer window.
After struggling to break into Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI, Loftus-Cheek could be on the move.
Reports have suggested the England international is angling an exit to bolster his first team opportunities.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace. Chelsea resume Premier League duties away to Tottenham on Saturday (5.30pm).
Elsewhere at Chelsea…
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba announced his retirement, calling time on a 20-year career in which the bullish centre forward won four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League.
Ivorian Drogba, who had been playing in the States for Phoenix Rising, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games having spearheaded the west London club’s revival under owner Roman Abramovich.
Drogba, 40, began his career at French side Le Mans in 1998, but did not play top-tier football until he was 23 when he was signed by Guingamp in 2002.
He moved to Olympique de Marseille in 2003 and a year later was signed by Chelsea where he became the attacking focal point of the team under Jose Mourinho and helped the club win their first top flight English title in 50 years.
He went on to win three Premier League titles in his first eight years at Chelsea as well as four FA Cups and two League Cups.
His first spell in west London ended on a high as he scored the winning penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Bayern Munich having also equalised with a thumping header to force extra time.
He had spells in China and Turkey before returning to Chelsea where he won a fourth Premier League title and a third League Cup, leaving the club as their fourth highest scorer of all time.
Source:www.express.co.uk