N’Golo Kante has served Paris Saint-Germain with a huge blow after declaring Chelsea as his home.
The France international is a top transfer target for PSG after establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe in the last three seasons.
Chelsea face a fight to keep hold of their best players this summer as they are on course to miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Without the appeal of Champions League football, the likes of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois could be convinced to leave for pastures new, but Kante has all but confirmed he will stay the club next season.
“I am at home. It is my club, I am a Chelsea player,” the London Evening Standard quote Kante as saying.
“This is my second year at Chelsea. After what happened last season, it was a very good one for us because we got to celebrate winning the title.
“In the second season, I have got to play in the Champions League and we are going to again finish in the top four.
“We will fight until the end to finish in the top four and to get in a Champions League position.
“We also have the FA Cup to play for – it is a good competition. Last season we failed in the final. It is the only trophy we can win this season, so we have to give everything to get to the final and win it.”
Since leaving France to join Leicester in the summer of 2015, Kante, who was born in Paris, has won more tackles and interceptions combined than any other player in the Premier League (680).
