While the past 12 months significant fees and big price tags have been all of the rage for Chelsea, in 2016 they were able to sign two players for a fee in the region of £30million.
N'Golo Kante.
The Frenchman joined the Blues from Leicester who received a record fee for his talents having won the Premier League, and Chelsea landed the perfect weapon for Antonio Conte's midfield regardless of his partner. Quite frankly, even seven years ago, the value was unbelievable.
The Blues won the Premier League and then the FA Cup in Kante's first two seasons at the club and the midfield engine covered enough ground and showed enough quality to sign a new five-year deal in 2018, which like saw him become the club's best-paid player.
There is little doubt Kante was appreciated as he fulfilled a more advanced role for Maurizio Sarri and continued to be a key part of the team as Frank Lampard looked to guide Chelsea's youngster's through a season without transfers.
It says much of Kante's abilities that it was still possible to underestimate it. Simply, in 2021/22 he dominated the Champions League knockout stages on the way to lifting the trophy. Man of the match awards were a matter of course and his superhuman abilities remained on show against the best in the world.
READ MORE: Every Chelsea player's summer transfer fate as Mauricio Pochettino makes ruthless decisions
The seasons that have followed have found less success and Kante has struggled with injuries. Thomas Tuchel described the prospect of Chelsea finishing third a 'miracle' given the midfielder's limited game time but was effusive in his praise too, describing him as still as important as Kylian Mbappe, Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne for their teams.
But heading closer to the final year of the former Caen midfielder's deal, it was clear that there was some frustration too.
Tuchel said: "This guy who gets man of the match in every Champions League game, he is only here for 40-something% of the matches. This is huge for us. We do everything to solve it. Of course, he as well. I don't blame him, it is just a concern and a fact that we miss him a lot because he brings something that is unique in world football, and he has that ability to lift everybody up and make that difference. This is the challenge for him and for us."
It was something that would have to be taken into account in negotiations moving forward.
Former Chelsea director Michael Emenalo described Chelsea as 'lucky' to have signed Kante. Perhaps it is unlucky that Kante has been limited to nine appearance in 2022/23 and saw a stop-start term in 2021/22 despite still racking 42 outings.
It might be unlucky that Chelsea's ability to negotiate was delayed due to government sanction and a takeover meant new introductions and relationships are to be built. It also feels unlucky that after a season of preparing the 32-year-old, taking cautious steps in his rehabilitation, and his return to play Liverpool in April showing he still had the magic to play more than one position at once, that it was not long before another setback saw him ruled out for the season.
In football you also make your own luck, however. While Chelsea appeared to have come to an agreement for the World Cup winner earlier this year, it has been all too common for the Blues to see stars enter the final year of their contracts in recent times.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen's departure set the club on the backfoot last summer, while there had been little preparation for transition as Kante and Jorginho entered the final year of their deals.
There is no doubting that Kante's age and injury record should lead to some pause, but wait too long and the power to decide a player's future disappears. With less than a month on Kante's contract, the platform has now changed.
Kante had been keen to continue his stay in London but clubs from Saudi Arabia have sniffed opportunity and the prospect of an otherworldly salary has arrived. The decision is now well out of Chelsea hands.
Much like with Mason Mount, there will have been opportunities to do business at earlier stages and the Cobham product will soon enter the final year of his deal, with an exit already on the cards.
On the final day of the season, neither player gave a definitive farewell. Kante even suggested 'we'll see'. Now we can see.
Chelsea have been without a player that can singlehandedly lifts confidence over the course of the season, and now it looks like they will have to find that confidence elsewhere.
Have your say on Chelsea's season and what comes next!
READ NEXT:
Chelsea await Mason Mount transfer action from Man United as Moises Caicedo reality appears
What the threat to Roman Abramovich's Fordstam Limited means for Chelsea as timeline begins
