Chelsea will reportedly demand around £18 million for N’Golo Kante amid interest from Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus.
N’Golo Kante will be a free agent in the summer, and the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan are keen on securing the services of the 30-year-old French international midfielder. As per La Repubblica, Chelsea will demand a fee of around £18 million for the World Cup winner.
Kante has been ruled out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup owing to a hamstring injury, and the midfielder is currently working his way towards full fitness. He has not been able to contribute significantly this season for Chelseabecause of persistent fitness issues.
Now, the report from La Repubblica claims that the 30-year-old French international does not have a good relationship with newly-appointed Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
There have been rumours of Chelsea trying to agree on a potential contract extension with the player. The former Leicester City midfielder is also reportedly keen on staying at Stamford Bridge. But it seems that Kante could be on his way out of the west London club in the coming months.
If the player refuses to sign an extension with Chelsea, it will make sense for them to sell him during the January transfer window so that they can recoup some money for him.
It will be interesting to see if Italian suitors Juventus and Inter Milan are willing to pay £18 million for his services when the transfer window opens in January. Both Serie A giants could use a quality defensive midfielder, and Kante is one of the best in his position.
If the Frenchman manages to get back to full fitness, he could be an asset for the two Serie A clubs over the next few years. Despite being 30, the Frenchman has a few years left at the highest level. And a move to Italy could be ideal for him at this stage of his career.
The low intensity of the Italian league will not be as demanding physically, and Kante could thrive in Serie A. The reported asking price of £18 million seems quite reasonable for a player of his ability. So it will be interesting to see how the situation around the veteran Chelsea midfielder develops over the next few weeks.