Barcelona might launch a late move to sign former Chelsea midfield mainstay N’Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad to replace the injured Marc Bernal.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, N’Golo Kante is the subject of interest from Barcelona again. The Catalan giants are scouring the market for a midfielder after Marc Bernal picked up a season-ending injury against Rayo Vallecano. The former Chelsea midfield mainstay has thus emerged as a late target for the Blaugrana.
N’Golo Kante and his spell with Al-Ittihad so far
N’Golo Kante has resurrected his stuttering fortunes since joining Al-Ittihad in a Bosman move last summer after his deal with Chelsea expired. The Frenchman endured an injury nightmare in his final season with Chelsea and moved to the Middle East to find a stable footing again.
The 33-year-old has been a revelation for Al-Ittihad with his well-rounded performances, chipping in with four goals and six assists in 45 appearances thus far. In addition, Kante was top-class for France during the country’s UEFA Euro 2024 campaign, having been the clear standout for Les Bleus in the monthlong extravaganza.
Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante’s exploits for his club and country have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. West Ham United briefly considered a move for the veteran French midfielder before moving away from the deal. In addition, the former Chelsea midfield mainstay is a target for Barcelona.
Barcelona interested in Kante
Barcelona’s interest in N’Golo Kante is understandable. The Catalan giants are keen on signing a holding midfielder before the summer transfer window closes after losing Marc Bernal to a long-term injury. The young midfield prospect picked up an ACL issue that has prematurely ended his 2024/25 campaign.
So, Barcelona will look to sign a holding midfielder before the summer transfer window shuts down, with several candidates, including Stefan Bajcetic, emerging on the club’s radar. However, they are also mulling over a late move for Kante, with the former Chelsea midfield mainstay a possible short-term target.
It will be interesting to see if a deal for Kante sees the light of day. However, recent reports have claimed that Al-Ittihad will not entertain any offers for the Frenchman, meaning a late move might not materialise.
