Chelsea have deal in place to sign Leicester City midfielder N'Golo Kante

Chelsea have a deal in place to sign N'Golo Kante from Leicester City with the midfielder reportedly refusing to extend his contract with the Foxes. Claudio Ranieri, Leicester manager, has insisted that the onus is on Kante after the Premier League Champions have done everything in their power to convince the France international to extend his stay at the King Power Stadium.

France Football reports that a €35m (£29m, $39m) deal has been brokered between the two sides with Chelsea beating Real Madrid to secure the Frenchman's signature.

Kante was among the star players who led the Foxes to their first Premier League title and Ranieri has revealed that he was offered a new contract before the Euros.

"He was offered a new contract before the start of the Euro. I know that many big clubs are interested but it is in his hands," Ranieri said. Kante made 37 appearances in the league last season and was included in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year for his consistent performances on the pitch.

Chelsea's new manager Antonio Conte is reportedly a huge fan of the player and would like some energy and steel in the Blues midfield which needs a makeover following a dismal 2015/16 campaign where they finished 10th in the league. Jose Mourinho, who led them to their fourth league title, was sacked midway through the season, and now all eyes are on Conte to see if he can bring the Blues back to the top. The former Italy national team manager made an appearance for his first press conference in Chelsea colours where he insisted that he would do everything in his power to guide the Blues to the top.

"We know this year that it won't be easy for us. Last season was a dead season, we know, me, the players and the club. But I think that we must think about the present, to work very hard every day, every week, every month to be something important," Conte said.