3 ways Chelsea can line up with new signing Kante

Running is what Antonio Conte wants from his players, and it's what he'll get from N'Golo Kante, the ubiquitous midfielder who signed for Chelsea on Saturday.

"If you run more than the others, you have more probability to win," Conte told reporters earlier in the week.

Kante is the living embodiment of Conte's winning spirit. As a vital cog in Leicester City's remarkable rise last season, the 25-year-old led the Premier League in tackles (175) and interceptions (156).

Related: ​Chelsea signs Kante from reigning champion Leicester for reported £32M

The joke from Leicester's head of recruitment, Steve Walsh, was that Kante assumed the role of two midfielders.

"We play with Danny Drinkwater in the middle and with Kante either side," Walsh said.

So Chelsea will have the luxury of flexing formations, knowing that Kante will cover whatever ground is left over. Conte's not in any rush to define which system he will use, only saying that he will tailor the right "dress" for his team.

Here are three ways Chelsea could line up with Kante in the starting XI:

3-5-2

Conte used the 3-5-2 to great success with Juventus and Italy, but he admitted in this week's opening press conference that a back-three is not so important to him.

Still, it's a formation we're likely to see at some point during the upcoming campaign, and Kante's the perfect man to play at the base of this kind of midfield.

The idea here is that Kante can provide defensive cover for John Terry, Gary Cahill, and one of Branislav Ivanovic or Kurt Zouma. This system would also allow Kante to play as a primary distributor, a role which he played under the radar at Leicester. Beyond his rugged attributes, Kante has the skill to recycle possession and send balls to wide outlets.

The knock-on effect is that Conte could use de facto wing-backs to great effect - and keep Juan Cuadrado. It's no secret Conte coveted Cuadrado during his time at Juventus, and the Colombian could easily offer the width the Italian loves to have. Incidentally, Cuadrado played primarily as a wing-back for Max Allegri's Juventus last season, but now that he's back from a season-long loan spell, he could stay in London for good.

Willian's the starter who gets sacrificed here, as he would have to operate in a deeper role. But he's the most disciplined player in Chelsea's ranks and puts himself at the disposal of the manager.

Eden Hazard can then play in an advanced role, giving new arrival Michy Batshuayi the necessary support while linking the midfield to the attack. It would be a new position for the Belgian, but it would offer him a lot more freedom.

4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 served as Chelsea's Plan A for several years, and Conte could look to deploy a double pivot this way. Kante's dynamism would free up Cesc Fabregas to join the attack and link up with the front four.

Fabregas can spray long balls across the pitch, and he proved during his first season at Stamford Bridge that he can thrive as a deep-lying playmaker. But the Spaniard still neglects some of the defensive aspects of the game, and Conte can trust Kante to compensate for Fabregas in the event that he does push up.

It would also solve the longstanding riddle that is Oscar, a natural No. 10 who found himself in various positions under Jose Mourinho. Conte could now use the Brazilian in the hole behind Batshuayi and create a dynamic spine down the middle.

Willian would also take up a familiar role on the right side of the attacking three - where he thrived last season - and Hazard would remain a threat on the left.

4-2-4

A two-man midfield is possible with Kante, who can cover ground like no one else in the Premier League. This formation could be an important one for Conte, as it allows him to deploy wingers without completely stretching the side. There's always a risk that the opposition could get behind the midfield in a situation like this one, but Kante provides a level of security in front of the defence that makes the system possible.

The 4-2-4 also gives an opportunity for both Diego Costa and Batshuayi to play together. There are questions as to whether Batshuayi will start ahead of the ill-disciplined Costa, but Conte would have less of a headache if this scenario came together.