Arsenal have sounded out N’Golo Kante’s representatives about a possible move to north London though the midfielder is likely to stay at Chelsea, according to reports.
The 32-year-old’s current deal with the Blues expires at the end of the season and he is in talks over a renewal, with Chelsea optimistic they can convince the World Cup winner to stay.
However, rival clubs have been circling – with foreign clubs able to speak to Kante since January, when he entered the last six months of his deal – while there is also interest from the Premier League.
According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Arsenal first looked into the possibility of signing Kante in January and remain interested in the midfielder.
In the end, the Gunners opted to sign Kante’s Chelsea team-mate Jorginho instead in a £12million deal, which was probably the right move given the Frenchman is still returning to full fitness.
Arsenal needed a stop-gap to provide cover and competition in midfield, but Kante has been struggling with a hamstring injury for most of the season and only made his return to action at the start of this month.
Kante is thought to be open to the idea of joining another London club – and might even have been open to a reunion with Antonio Conte before he was sacked by Spurs – though the most likely outcome is that he renews with Chelsea.
‘N’Golo would like to continue his career in London, where he has his habits,’ an unnamed member of Kante’s entourage told Le Parisien.
‘He liked working with Antonio Conte, but he has been sacked by Tottenham. Arsenal also made an enquiry. I think he will extend his deal at Chelsea before going to the Middle-East in two or three years.’
Kante has missed much of the season with a hamstring injury that required surgery back in the summer.
Incredibly, after being picked in the starting XI for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, each of his last four appearances have come under different coaches: Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and now Frank Lampard.
Interim boss Lampard raved about the midfielder recently, saying last week: ‘The main reason that he’s so good is that he’s the best in the world at being a destructor.
‘When I say destructor, I’m talking about winning the ball back. To win the ball back with his anticipation and having the speed to get tight to close distances like no-one else in world football.
‘His main attribute for me is destruction, leaving areas to win balls back. An old-fashioned holding midfield player you’d say would sit in front of the back four, Makelele did it years ago for Chelsea so well.
‘But he [Kante] has so much more to his game. When you see the distances he closes to get in front of people, that acceleration and speed, that is something special to him. It’s very unique.’
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