Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has urged the Blues to renew the contract of Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.

Kante’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season and the Blues are yet to reach an agreement with the midfielder over a new deal.

Kante has featured just twice for Chelsea this season due to a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in August.

He was close to making a return in October but suffered a setback and it was then decided he should undergo surgery to correct the issue. The surgery meant he missed the World Cup with France.

Despite Kante’s fitness issues, Hasselbaink has warned the Blues would be making a mistake in letting the two-time Premier League champion walk away for nothing next summer.

“Kante deserves it [a new contract] and to replace him would take one hell of a signing,” Hasselbaink, speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Casinos, told football.london.

“I think Kante has been overworked; he played a lot of matches in a really short time. It was going to catch up with him.

“Hopefully not going to the World Cup with France will do him well. That is not what he would want to hear but I think not going will be great for Chelsea because he can get healthy and go again. So I would definitely renew Kante’s contract.”