Chelsea have strongly denied reports of a rift between N’Golo Kante and Frank Lampard.
On Monday, French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the relationship between Kante and Lampard has become strained and the midfielder’s representatives are attempting to engineer a move to Inter in the January transfer window.
The report claims that Kante was unhappy after Lampard denied his request to miss training in order to attend a friend’s wedding.
However, Chelsea have denied any reports of a bust-up between the pair and have described the story as ‘total nonsense’.
The France international was also keen to remain at Chelsea in the summer, despite Antonio Conte’s desire to sign him for Inter.
Kante has featured heavily in all four of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far and looks set to be a key part of Lampard’s midfield this season.
The 29-year-old started just 20 Premier League games for Chelsea last season due to injury.
But now he is fully fit, Lampard claims the midfielder will be ‘fundamental’ to Chelsea.
‘I think pretty much every club in the world would want N’Golo Kante,’ Lampard told BBC Radio 5 Live last month.
‘We can obviously talk about the attacking players we have but someone like N’Golo and the work he does in midfield… It was a difficult year for him last year because of the injuries.
‘He came into the season with an injury and it was a domino effect through the year. It was probably a culmination of four or five years of games, so I’m really excited to have him fit. He looks fresh, he’s a big deal to me.
‘Of course I want to keep N’Golo.’
