Best signings: 1st Toby. 2nd Kante. 3rd Payet. De Bruyne could've been in with a shout but as he'd had his injuries plus the fact he cost upwards of £50m means he just misses out. Worst signings: 1st Benteke. 2nd Depay. 3rd Rahman. World Class after one season? I've heard it all now. Pogba, Vidal, Kroos, Modric, Busquets, Iniesta, Yaya - these guys are world class centre mids, they've been at the top level for multiple seasons and have done it both in the league and Europe, lets not forget Kante has been afforded a good 6-7 days rest each week on average, the best tend to play twice in that timespan and still maintain a superb level. If Kante can keep up this form for another season or two, whether that's with Leicester or elsewhere then it'll be fair to look at him with a world class tag but to label him that after one season is an absolute joke.
Why do I get the feeling that other users have three pages of this discussion? Oh, right, it's because I sent some gobby Leicester zealot who knows **** all about football to the cornfields...
It depends on what your definition of world class is. If you can find a single player that is better at winning the ball back, driving forward and then setting up an attack then fair enough. But, for me, nobody does what Kante does better.
Somebody really needs to work out how the ignore function works. It's not like the word "ignore" is in its name or anything...
Well if he is really the best in the world then we can safely assume that he won't be at Leicester next season so you best enjoy these last 4 matches with him.
If someone comes in for the right amount of money (upwards of 40m for Kante) and the lad wants to go then yes. That's the same for any of our footballers (and yours for that matter).
We went from the sixth worst defense in the league to the best by a mile. It's not all Alderweireld, of course. Dier has also been crucial. But Alderweireld has done more than you would have dreamed a CB would do. I actually couldn't tell you if he's been better than Kante, since I haven't seen Kante enough. But Kante has clearly been one of the top two. Payet clearly deserves to be ranked with them, especially as he missed a significant amount of time with injury. Flop of the year? Memphis Depay has been hugely disappointing. I'll quibble that Bentecke ranks among the very worst. He's actually been what you might expect: a player who will score 15 goals a year or so if he starts every game, but also one not suited to help an attacking side. Both he and Carroll have a place on a top team: on the bench unless and until they need a late goal. I still think Stirling is a good player, but I'm starting to have my doubts. I think I might take Schweinsteiger. He showed up looking fat and old, and has managed to go downhill from there.
I'd say world class is someone who performs at the highest level in domestic, European and international football for a number of seasons. Like I touched on in my previous post, Kante is often getting a week to train and rest for every match, will he maintain the level he's been at after he's had to play the likes of your Roma's, Leverkusen's, Benfica's, Zenit's (let alone the big, big dogs) and then the league games a few days later? We don't know as he's never had to do it, hence why branding him world class, especially after just one season is insane in my eyes. As Kante is a central midfielder, the likes of Pogba, Modric, Kroos, Vidal, Yaya, Iniesta, Busquets, Matuidi are the sought I'd brand as world class (no doubt I've forgotten some too). All have been at the top level for years, they've featured regularly for their national sides and also in European competition. Better at winning the ball - Nainggolan, Matuidi, Busquets and Mascherano (when at DM, now seemingly a CB), an argument could be made for Matic but he's been **** this season - which has been a joy to watch . Better at getting the ball forward and setting up attacks - Pogba, Modric, Kroos, Vidal, Yaya, Iniesta, Rakitic, Pjanic, Matuidi and possibly others I've forgotten. Of all the players mentioned, Kante is probably similar to Matuidi, both strong tacklers, have engines and like getting attacks started, though until Kante does it over at least a couple of seasons with European football involved then I won't label him in Matuidi's league nor will I say he's world class, he hasn't earned or deserved it yet. It's just like Kane for us, he's been amazing, this is the second season running he's hit 25+ goals in all comps but I still wouldn't call him world class yet. I think if he carries this form into next season and does well in the Euro's and all being well the Champions League, then I think it'll be fair to bracket him as world class but right now would you put him in the same league as Aguero, Suarez, Zlatan and Lewandowski? I know I wouldn't, not yet anyway. He's certainly one of, if not the most exciting young striker in European/ World football but there's a still a bit more to go before branding him alongside such quality players.
Think you and I both know Kante will go for less than £40m if someone comes in for him, £25m would probably get the Leicester board to accept.
There was a rumour of a release clause in his contract. If that's the case, and he wants to go, that will be the price.
Well it's safe to say you're going to be very disappointed if a club does come in for him, because if he does go, it'll be nowhere near this £40m fee you're hoping for, especially as news outlets speak of a £20m release clause.
