Chelsea look like the real deal this season.
After finishing fourth in the Premier League last term few would have predicted the way in which they would look to kick on as they prepared for the new season.
The Blues spent in excess of £200million on new players in the transfer market, with Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Edouard Mendy and Kai Havertz among those who made the move to west London.
But while new arrivals were the name of the game, there was plenty of discussion over potential outgoings.
One player linked with an exit was N'Golo Kante.
The midfielder was tipped as a contender to leave the club as Frank Lampard looked to bolster his midfield with more technically-gifted players.
That move didn't materialise and since then Kante has re-established himself as a key man - something which isn't a surprise to Gary Neville who believes that offloading the midfielder would have been a big mistake.
Speaking to Sky Sports, as quoted by The Express, Neville said: “When I saw reports over the summer that Jorginho was going to leave, I wasn’t surprised.
"When I saw reports over the summer that Kante might leave, I was shocked.
“I thought, ‘Frank, he is not a player you want to lose’.
“He is a unique player and every player in that squad must love him. He does that job brilliantly.”
Neville added: "Kante playing in that holding position in a three in midfield, it’s where we always thought he should play," Neville said during an appearance on Sky Sports.
“It’s a modern phenomenon to play a player in that position who is good on the ball. We’ve seen Xavi and Pirlo do it.
“But when you think of Fabinho, Fernandinho or Kante, that’s the classic player in that position.
"They read the danger, they break up attacks and they are a centre-backs’ dream.
“Playing Kante there would seem to be the logical conclusion in keeping him at the club.”
GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...
It's hard to argue with Gary Neville's verdict here.
N'Golo Kante has established himself as one of the Premier League's best midfielders in recent years - a reputation which is truly deserved.
The Frenchman may not be as eye-catching to watch as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne or Chelsea's Kai Havertz, but he offers something truly unique.
Teams need a balance of attacking quality and defence-minded players who can do the ugly work - something that Kante is simply brilliant at doing.
It would have been a big blow to lose the midfielder this summer and I think that Lampard is now seeing just how valuable the midfielder will be in Chelsea's hopes of challenging for the title.