Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that N'Golo Kante was a major target for the club and not a backup signing.
The former Leicester City man joined the Blues after signing a five-year contract, becoming Conte's second summer signing at the club.
He was part of the France squad that reached the final at the 2016 Euro Championship.
And the Italian is convinced that he will be a key member of his midfield department together with Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel.
"I want to say Kante was a target and for this reason I'm very happy the club bought the player," Conte said.
"He's a good player. He has good technique, fantastic stamina and I like this type of player. If you want to win a team needs this type of player – Kante, Matic and Mikel – that work hard for the team.
"We identified him, me and the club together, and I think Kante can give a lot to Chelsea, to enforce a zone which is very important if we want to play with two central midfielders.
"He showed last season he's able to play with another midfielder. I think with this player we've reinforced the squad.
"All together we are working to improve the squad. We know we have to but we prefer to wait and go for our targets, rather than go with emotion and take the players who don't adapt to our idea of football.
"I'm also very happy about Batshuayi. Tomorrow he arrives and he will start to work with the team.
"I talk every day with the club, it's very important because we know what the team needs. Myself and the club are on the same line and we know what to do to improve the team.
"But I repeat, we prefer to wait and take the right player rather than taking one only for emotion, that's not right for me."
