Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted the club must consider N’Golo Kante’s injury record during potential contract talks with the Frenchman.
Kante will miss at least another month due to the latest in a string of hamstring problems, with the 31-year-old battling intermittent setbacks for the last few years.
The World Cup-winner’s Chelsea contract expires next summer, at the same time as Italian midfielder Jorginho.
Chelsea’s new owners are determined to stop senior players’ contracts running down in parallel, as with Andreas Christensen and Toni Rudiger last term, who both left on free transfers.
Tuchel believes Kante remains “unique” in world football, but also accepted the shrewd tactician’s injury profile remains a concern.
Asked if the France star’s injury record will have a bearing on his contract situation, Tuchel replied: “Yes. You have to consider everything that is on the table.
“And on the table is his potential, on the table is his influence, and his quality.
“But on the table of course is his age, his salary and his injury rate, of course.
“From there you build a whole picture and try to find a solution.”
Kante’s blend of destructive ball-winning ability, high-octane graft and increasing quality on the ball make him a vital component of Chelsea’s strongest XI.
The ex-Leicester City star’s services will be in high demand despite his injury issues should he look at options beyond Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel continues to consider Kante one of his key players but admitted the wide-ranging impact of his every absence.
Asked if title challenges are sustainable when such an important player is missing so frequently, Tuchel replied: “This is a key question and the answer is maybe no, but we try to.
“It’s much more difficult because you see the impact that he has, you see the impact in the goals that we concede, the amount of goals, the amount of points that we have, the amount of goals that we concede, the amount of goals he makes.
“He makes players simply better around him. He gives something that is very unique and don’t forget he also installs confidence that you cannot measure.
“That’s why he is a key player, but for the key players it is super important to be on the pitch and to have the impact.
“By the rhythm that you mentioned, I meant you can count the matches that he is missing, but what about the first two, three, four matches where you need to rediscover your rhythm? Nobody is counting…
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