There are many who rate the France international at such a level, so impressive has he been since arriving in English football.
Unstoppable! Chelsea kill off title race
His destructive talents in the middle of the park allowed Leicester City to sweep to a remarkable title triumph in 2015-16, and he is looking to repeat that success 12 months on.
With Chelsea holding a commanding lead at the top of the table, back-to-back crowns appear to be a formality for Kante.
There is, however, little chance of the humble 25-year-old being caught up in the hype that continues to surround both his personal displays and those of the Blues as a collective.
Instead, Kante is happy to deflect attention onto others and free himself to go about his business in a typically understated fashion.
A leading contender for the PFA Player of the Year award told Telefoot: “We have to take the games one after the other. That’s what everyone is thinking. We have to keep a hold on everything.
Pedro names Chelsea’s best player
“My current form? I am flourishing, but I don’t feel like the best player in the Premier League.
“There are a lot of good players. A lot of guys would deserve that title on my team.”
Kante has made 31 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season, with the most recent seeing the Blues snatch a 2-1 win at Stoke City to pull 13 points clear at the Premier League summit.
