Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race to sign N’Golo Kante, with the Chelsea midfielder also being tailed by PSG over a summer move.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Don Balon, Real Madrid are interested in signing N’Golo Kante in the summer transfer window. The European champions have joined PSG in pursuit of the Frenchman, whose future at Chelsea looks highly uncertain at the present moment.
Kante took the Premier League by storm upon first moving to England by administering Leicester City’s shock league triumph. The player made an even bigger impact after joining Chelsea in the subsequent summer, as the Blues won the Premier League title as well, while Kante went on to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
Last season saw Chelsea struggle once again and meekly surrender their title. But, Kante remained a stand-out for them. Kante has continued his strong showings at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, where he has arguably been Les Bleus‘ best player thus far. With Chelsea missing out on Champions League though, his future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain. Real Madrid and PSG are interested.
At Real Madrid, past managers have had the luxury of having stalwarts like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro as their first-choice midfielders in recent seasons. In addition to the trio, talented youngsters like Mateo Kovacic, Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente remained further options.
But, Modric, Kovacic and Llorente all face uncertain futures at Real Madrid, and could be on their way out of the Bernabeu this summer. Thus, midfield reinforcements seem to be the need of the hour for Real Madrid amid a squad overhaul. And, new manager Julen Lopetegui has specifically asked for the Chelsea midfielder.
While Kante will not be a like for like replacement for Modric, his addition could help add steel to midfield while easing the defensive burden on Casemiro’s shoulders. But, Real Madrid are not the only club in pursuit of the Chelsea superstar, with PSG also in the mix.
Thiago Motta retired at the end of the 2017-18 season, while Grzegorz Krychowiak and Lassana Diarra face uncertain futures. Kante’s arrival from Chelsea could thus, bolster midfield considerably and create a solid midfield quadrant featuring the Frenchman, Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot and Giovani Lo Celso.
The report also suggests that PSG are willing to pay €100 million to secure the player’s services. Whether they actually lodge such a bid remains to be seen. But, Real Madrid will definitely have to ramp up their interest in Kante, with Les Parisiens seemingly serious in their bid to sign him.
As far as Chelsea are concerned, the Blues appear to be keeping their options open, with Tanguy Ndombele being considered as a possible replacement. But, Kante’s future could lie away from Stamford Bridge, with Real Madrid and PSG keen on landing him this summer.
