Steve Nicol urged Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool to sign N’Golo Kante in the summer when the midfielder’s Chelsea contract expires.
N’Golo Kante remained on Chelsea’s books beyond the January window as the midfielder remained sidelined with an injury. The Frenchman has missed a chunk of this season with fitness-related problems, and there is no clarity on when he might make a comeback.
The Frenchman has proven himself as one of the best midfielders of his generation and helped Chelsea win many trophies during his time here. He joined the Blues in 2016 after helping Leicester City win a historic Premier League title and repeated the trick in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Since then, Kante has won the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Club World Cup, among other titles at Chelsea. He is at a crossroads of a key career decision as his contract expires in the summer. The 31-year-old still has a €30 million market value. And his potential availability on a free transfer makes him an exciting prospect in the next window.
The Chelsea veteran is yet to clarify his stance on his future, as the noises from the club regarding a new contract have cooled down. There is a dispute between Kante and the new hierarchy, and reports suggest they have not honoured the verbal offer the previous regime made regarding an extension.
It leaves him free to depart in the summer. And some of the top clubs in the world will line up to sign him. Steve Nicol wishes Liverpool were one of those as he urged Jurgen Klopp to sign the Chelsea veteran in the summer on a free transfer. He made some comments on ESPN’s YouTube Channel, insisting clubs should look to snap up the Frenchman.
Nicol said, “If I am a coach of the best team on the planet, and he’s [Kante] available, then I want to sign him. “There are certain things that you take a chance on in football, and this is one of them. You know exactly what you are getting when he is fit. You know you are getting a player, a gentleman, and an experienced winner.”
“He’s the whole package. The nicest guy in the world. Fantastic in the dressing room. You are getting everything. The question is, the fitness side of it, but it’s worth a gamble. If I am Madrid, Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern, or any of the so-called big guys. If this guy is on a free, then I am signing him.”
Liverpool have struggled this season and languishes above Chelsea in the ninth spot. They have a massive task if they wish to finish in one of the European places. Central midfield is an area they have had problems in this season, with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson being disappointing.
Kante will surely add a bite to the area and bring about a different mentality on Klopp’s side. The Chelsea veteran may not have the longevity to become someone the manager will build the squad around but offers a solid medium-term solution to Liverpool.
