La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly reignited their interest in 33-year-old former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, N’Golo Kante is the subject of interest from FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants were keen on signing the former Chelsea midfielder before he joined Al-Ittihad last year. However, they have revived their interest in the 33-year-old, identifying him as a low-cost option for this summer’s transfer window.
N’Golo Kante and his rising stock
N’Golo Kante has revived his stuttering career since joining Al-Ittihad in a Bosman move after leaving Chelsea as a free agent last summer. While the Frenchman enjoyed incredible success at Stamford Bridge, his stint with the West London club ended in a whimper as he barely featured in the 2022/23 season due to persistent fitness issues.
The 33-year-old has turned out nearly 50 times thus far for Al-Ittihad while chipping in with four goals and six assists. Kante improved his fitness levels in the Saudi Pro League while adding new facets to his game. That helped him regain his spot in France’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024, with Didier Deschamps handing him the first-choice midfield berth.
Kante was one of the best players at UEFA Euro 2024 and narrowly missed out on a spot in our Team of the Tournament. Meanwhile, the French international has piqued the attention of several well-known clubs in Europe with his exploits for Al-Ittihad and Les Bleus. Recent reports have linked the veteran midfielder with West Ham United, with Barcelona now emerging as a suitor.
La Liga move on the horizon?
Barcelona’s interest in N’Golo Kante is a tad bit surprising but understandable. The Catalan giants have struggled to fill the void left by the departure of Sergio Busquets last summer, with Oriol Romeu failing to make his mark in the 2022/23 season. Several midfielders, including Adrien Rabiot, have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar.
However, Kante is also a viable target for the Blaugrana, considering he will not cost a bomb. But convincing Al-Ittihad to sell the 33-year-old former Chelsea star might be a tall order, while the Frenchman might have to take a pay cut to join Barcelona.
So, while the veteran midfielder can be a low-cost option to bolster the midfield unit, a summer move will unlikely see the light of day unless Barcelona can convince Al-Ittihad to part ways with him.
