There are plenty of Chelsea connections in France’s squad. Malo Gusto is in the Chelsea side, as is former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante, and plenty of players linked with the Blues over the years.
Mike Maignan has been a long-term target for Chelsea over the years. Jules Kounde, Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano, Bradley Barcola and plenty more France stars have been linked with Chelsea over the years.
How many points are Chelsea taking out of a possible 1️⃣2️⃣?
Chelsea Premier League fixtures 2026/27
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Michael Olise even spent seven years in the Blues academy. They might be Les Bleus, but many could and have worn the Blue of Chelsea too. There is a current France star being eyed by Chelsea this summer.
According to reports, Manu Kone has emerged as an option for Chelsea this summer. Roma require a big sale before the Financial Fair Play deadline, with the Serie A side needing to balance the books by £50m.
Kone, 25, didn’t start France’s first game against Senegal, but Didier Deschamps included Kone in the starting line-up against Iraq overnight. The game was delayed at half-time by more than two hours.
France v Iraq -World Cup
Photo by Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images
Yet, France did a professional job and secured a 3-0 win, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Ousmane Dembele getting another. In midfield, Kone starred amid reports Chelsea want to do a deal for £35m.
French newspaper L’Equipe handed Kone a rating of just 5/10, but they explained that Kone did the job he was asked to do by Deschamps: “The active midfielder did simple but effective things.
“In a slightly different role: less on the ball, more focused on winning it back, leaving the attackers to create danger. We would have liked to see him take more risks; the instructions didn’t encourage that.”
Kone would be the perfect partner for Moises Caicedo
Chelsea have plenty of midfield options. But the way Kone plays, there is a gap in the middle of the park that Kone could fill. Enzo Fernandez could leave, and Argentine media are pushing a move to Madrid.
Where was that work rate in a Chelsea shirt last season?! 😮
Enzo Fernandez's stunning stats for Argentina vs Austria.
But Kone would not be a replacement for Fernandez. He is more defensive, better in building attacks from deep and winning the ball back, driving with the ball from deep and beating a press, superb in transition.
Moises Caicedo needs a partner alongside him, and Kone would be perfect for that role, even if Kylian Mbappe poured cold water on comparisons with Paul Pogba. Kone would be a super signing for Chelsea.
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