N’Golo Kante has seen his contract talks break down with Chelsea as there has not been any breakthrough between the intermediaries.
Robin Bairner has told Give Me Sport that Chelsea have not reached any conclusion regarding a new contract for N’Golo Kante. The French midfielder’s existing deal is slated to expire this summer, and he will be able to negotiate fresh terms with any other club in January, with Barcelona keen on signing him.
Kante is reportedly keen to extend his stay beyond this season but has been locked in extended contract negotiations. Chelsea have a strict policy for players over 30 as the management usually does not offer multi-year contracts to them.
Kante’s demand has not matched what the club has put on the table. The French international ideally is looking for a three-year contract with the option for another one from Chelsea.
But the Blues are willing to extend his contract by a further two years and will include the option for another year. Time is running out for Chelsea and Kante to agree on a deal as the arrival of the World Cup could complicate things.
Although Kante will not be called up to the France squad due to his latest injury, he will be free to discuss a potential deal with new clubs from January onwards. Given Chelsea’s current whirlwind position on the pitch, extending his contract could provide the West Londoners with breathing space.
Barcelona are also lurking around for his signature as the Catalan giants are keen to sign him on a free transfer. Franck Kessie has not had that required effect since his arrival at Camp Nou, and the Barcelona hierarchy wants to add some new names to their ranks.
Chelsea’s inability to agree to a new deal could be a blessing in disguise for the Blaugrana, who will be more than happy to fulfil his demands. Robin Bairner has revealed Chelsea are yet to nail down any clarity in the contract negotiations with Kante, thus handing a boost to Barcelona.
“My understanding of the situation at the moment doesn’t vary from a lot of sources to be honest. Talks have broken down in terms of the length of contract being a sticking point. We’ve heard that Barcelona are interested in Kante. I don’t think that would necessarily be a good move for either side, I think he’d be better off staying at Chelsea for the time being.”
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona will make an approach to sign Kante anytime soon. The Catalan giants view the Chelsea midfielder as a priority target, and a move to Camp Nou might be on the cards if contract talks remain broken down.
