Chelsea midfield general N’Golo Kante is reportedly pushing Barcelona for a pre-contract agreement in January.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, N’Golo Kante is eager to decide on his future as soon as possible. And the Chelsea midfielder is pushing Barcelona to complete a pre-contract agreement. Kante has received offers from several clubs and does not want to miss out on a move in case the Catalan giants do not come calling.
N’Golo Kante joined Chelsea after a short stint with Leicester City, who he helped win an improbable Premier League title. And the Frenchman has enjoyed a stunning spell with the Blues, winning every possible trophy thus far. At the same time, he has enjoyed success on the international stage, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
But fitness issues have plagued Kante in the last few years, including the 2022/23 season thus far. The 31-year-old has managed only 175 minutes of game time across two outings and will not return before February. Meanwhile, the player’s contract situation has left Chelsea in a spot of bother. And with his deal running out in the summer, Kante has emerged on Barcelona’s radar.
Barcelona will delve into the market for a replacement for Sergio Busquets in the summer. That is because the veteran midfielder has shown signs of regression in the last twelve months. And with the Barcelona captain considering leaving the Blaugrana in the summer, they need to plan for life after the long-serving midfield general.
Xavi Hernandez’s priority target for the midfield unit is Martin Zubimendi. But the Spaniard is too expensive for Barcelona due to his release clause, worth €60 million. Kante has thus emerged as a viable option for the Catalan outfit due to his impending free-agent status. And with Chelsea formulating plans to replace the 31-year-old, Barcelona will have a decent chance to land him.
Kante is now pushing Barcelona for a pre-contract agreement in January. With his Chelsea stint likely to end, the French international wants to decide on his future at the earliest. And Kante does not wish to miss out on clubs that have submitted offers to him in case the Catalan giants do not come calling.
Meanwhile, Chelsea might be resigned to losing the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner as a free agent in the summer. And it will be interesting to see if Barcelona will secure a pre-contract agreement with the French midfield general in January.
