Chelsea's midfield woes could be eased up before they know it. Despite being without Denis Zakaria due to injury and Jorginho's role in the side long-term seemingly untenable, Graham Potter has had to knit together a partnership without his most important weapon.
In recent weeks it has been Conor Gallagher's turn to deputise in the middle of the park, offering energy levels comparable to N'Golo Kante but without the discipline or tactical nous. The 22-year-old's fit in a two-man midfield has been questioned but his performances against Liverpool and Crystal Palace were impressive, even if it would be hard to pin down exactly what his role was.
In the long-term there are also remaining doubts over the fitness of Mateo Kovacic - whose deal expires in 2024 - and also the general makeup of the squad. The midfield has been massively neglected in recent years with no permanent signing since 2018.
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This is partly what fuelled the fanfare over Enzo Fernandez but with less than one week left of the window, it appears unlikely that he will be on his way to Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham will only move over the summer but without Champions League football Chelsea face an uphill battle to convince the England pair that their project is the right one.
For this reason, it becomes even more vital that the Blues make use of the resources they have. Although Kante has played less than 180 minutes of football this season - making his last appearances in August during the second league game of the campaign - there is growing hope he will be back sooner rather than later.
With no domestic action to clog up the fixture list Chelsea are almost on a skeleton schedule for the rest of the season. That not only affords Potter more time to work with his team, but it also reduces the strain on his squad which has been plagued with injuries. In the middle of all of this, Kante could be set for a return.
According to French publication L'Equipe, Kante may even be back as soon as February. Although there is no date set, Chelsea's Champions League last-16 ties are on February 15 and March 4. The latter may well be a realistic target. February 26 also marks the reverse fixture of his last appearance for the Blues, away at Tottenham.
Although Potter will want to be extremely careful with his prize asset and star player, the gradual return of Kante could be the big spark to get the season going for Chelsea and also glue together the midfield. On top of the understanding that talks remain ongoing with general positivity over agreeing a new deal for the 31-year-old, Chelsea may be able to move forward with excitement once more.
Kante's abilities across a long season may well be diminishing but his effectiveness in one-off matches and knockout ties has perhaps never been so apparent. He was imperative to the 2021 Champions League win due to his form under Thomas Tuchel and even if he has to be rested and prioritised just for these matches, even a half-fit Kante would offer something Chelsea haven't had in a long time.
With the Blues also looking to spend big on a midfielder this month they could potentially hold off on any investment until the Kante situation is resolved.
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