Former Chelsea man, N’Golo Kante, is reportedly preparing for a shock return to the Premier League after a year in Saudi Arabia. London rivals, West Ham United, are in advanced negotiations with Al-Ittihad. While Kante is said to be happy at his current club, a potential return to the English capital is hard to resist.
The World Cup winner is currently available for a sum of £20m with the main hurdle being the payment of his wages. West Ham have been quite active with their summer transfers in a bid to build a stronger squad. Julen Lopetegui had his eyes on the star back in his Real Madrid days. His recent appointment at West Ham has seen players like Max Kilman, Wes Foderingham and Luis Guilherme get onboard. Kante, who has yet again proved his mettle at Euro 2024, could bring the X factor in midfield which they had earlier expected from Kalvin Philips.
Kante’s Stellar Career: From Chelsea to Saudi Arabia
The French national made his professional debut at Boulogne in 2012 with just one appearance that season. Boulogne were relegated from Ligue 2 and he played an entire season in the third tier in 2013. In the following season, he was picked up by Caen, another team in the second division. Caen finished in the 3rd place to secure a promotion to Ligue 1. He spent another year with them before his £5.6m transfer to newly promoted Leicester City.
The French midfielder is known for consistently putting up an incredible work-rate as well as a defensive display in the midfield. He played a crucial role in delivering Leicester their first Premier League title in the 2015/16 season, a feat that rocked the entire country. This caught the attention of Chelsea who signed Kante for a sum of £32m in the next summer. He went on to win the Premier League, Europa League, Champions League and FA Cup with the Blues and also won the Premier League Player of the Year award in 16/17 season.
His surprise yet rightly earned call-up to the national team is when his career truly peaked. At the international level, he found himself in a star-studded squad with players like Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane, Kylian Mbappe, and many more. The then Chelsea star lived the dream of every footballer after winning the World Cup in 2018. Four years later, France would appear in another World Cup final. However, this time it was Argentina who were glorious.
In 2023, N’Golo Kante left for Saudi football after 8 years in England. His departure from the limelight hasn’t stopped from demonstrating his skill and tenacity on the pitch. As a result, West Ham are hoping that the 33-year-old would bring immense experience and leadership to the team. Both parties are eager to finalise the deal.
Is the Chelsea Legend Worth £20m?
Al-Ittihad is willing to sell N’Golo Kante for £20m. While it is true that this is a significant amount for a player in his thirties, the price accurately justifies itself. The midfielder has not let his age get the better of him. His recent performances at Euro 2024 proved that he is still capable of playing at the highest level. Tight man-marking, agility, tracking back – he has it all and could still make it in the current Chelsea squad. Nevertheless, West Ham are reportedly working on reducing both the price and the wages of the player. The East London club can only wait and hope for a positive response from the Saudi side.
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