Inter manager Antonio Conte remains keen on a reunion with Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante and is considering reigniting his pursuit of the Frenchman.
Kante was heavily linked with a move away from Chelsea during the summer after injuries meant he failed to impress during Frank Lampard's debut season, and Inter were regularly touted as suitors of the midfielder.
Chelsea refused to part ways with Kante, but according to Canal (via The Sun), Conte remains undeterred and still hopes to strike a deal for the 2018 World Cup winner, who is also thought to be wanted by Real Madrid.
Conte signed Arturo Vidal from Barcelona during the summer, while he also struck permanent deals for loanees Nicolo Barella and Stefano Sensi, and he even welcomed Radja Nainggolan back from loan, but the boss seemingly remains unimpressed with his midfield.
Kante is said to be the man at the top of Conte's wish list, with the Italian still longing for a reunion with the man who helped him with the Premier League title in 2016/17.
Whether Chelsea would actually be interested in selling is a different question. Kante has started all eight of his side's league games this season and has been back at his dominant best, recently impressing at the base of a 4-3-3.
However, Lampard is not thought to see Kante as a long-term option for the position. The Blues are believed to be ready to reignite their chase of West Ham United's Declan Rice, and selling Kante would go a long way to helping Chelsea afford a move for the 21-year-old, who was valued at close to £80m during the summer.
Even if Chelsea do land Rice, it is thought that Lampard still hopes to keep Kante, whom he sees as having a future in a more advanced role in midfield.
Kante still has three years left on his contract and is understood to be happy at Stamford Bridge, so Chelsea will not feel as though they are under any pressure to sell one of their top stars.
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Source : 90min