Conor Gallagher has laughed off comparisons to N'Golo Kante after similarities between the two midfielders were found. The former has impressed for Chelsea this season in the latter's absence, earning a call-up to the England World Cup squad.
He is one of three Blues players who will represent the Three Lions in Qatar later this month. Gallagher has featured 18 times for the Blues this term, directly contributing towards two goals from midfield.
While the Cobham graduate has impressed recently, he endured a tough start to the season. First-team minutes were of the essence, and a change of management didn't help the 22-year-old's cause, but he ploughed on and eventually forced his way into the west Londoners' plans.
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Gallagher took advantage of his opportunity and impressed Gareth Southgate. He did his best to shoulder the role of Kante, bringing ball-winning ability, athleticism and tenacity back to the Chelsea midfield.
"He does one thing Chelsea haven't got – they haven't got a proper goalscoring midfielder," Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT in December 2021. "And I mean more centrally.
"They've got lots of wide men who can chip in goals, and sometimes Mason Mount can play more centrally, [Callum] Hudson-Odoi can come inside into positions to score goals.
"But, for me, Conor Gallagher is like N'Golo Kante with goals," the former Chelsea striker added. "Kante is a brilliant player, he does so many good things for the side, but he has never got goals, and I see that in Conor Gallagher."
Former boss Thomas Tuchel targeted Gallagher's return and believed that the youngster would be the perfect replacement for Kante, who is set to leave Chelsea at the end of the season once his deal expires. The German believed that the England international shared a number of qualities with the 31-year-old.
"When he said it, it did make me laugh and surprise me a little bit," Gallagher told the Evening Standard. "It's obviously a massive compliment, even if I'm half the player Kante is because I feel like he's the best midfielder in the world, probably still now when he's fit.
"We are obviously different players. He probably gets around a bit more than me. He's a bit sharper than me. So yeah, we're different players."
Kante will be free to begin pre-contract talks with clubs outside of the Premier League in January in order to secure a move upon the end of his Blues deal in June. The west Londoners can extend his stay at Chelsea at any time, subject to him agreeing to an extension.
Should the club look to sanction the Frenchman's exit, Todd Boehly could either recuperate a small fee in January and relinquish his services for the remainder of the campaign or let him leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. With a verdict yet to be reached, Chelsea are somewhat in limbo.
Several midfielders have been eyed ahead of the January transfer window, though it remains to be seen how Graham Potter wants to manage Kante's future.
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