Former Chelsea left-back Scott Minto slams N’Golo Kante for contract demands
Talking to Talksport Radio (h/t Express), former Chelsea left-back Scott Minto slammed N’Golo Kante for his contract demands and told the club to not bow down to those demands and let the player leave for free.
Kante has entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. He can speak to foreign clubs from January 1 onwards to sign a pre-contract agreement, provided an extension is not possible here.
The new regime at Chelsea did make a verbal two-year extension offer to the 31-year-old, with an option for the third. The Frenchman rejected the idea as he wanted a longer duration of the contract.
Minto believes the contract demands are out of reach from the player. Here’s what he said (h/t Express):
“He’s 31, he’s a superb player and when he’s fit I still don’t think there’s anyone better. You go back to that Tottenham game where Chelsea outplayed Spurs and Spurs nicked it, he was absolutely superb.
“But one, he’s not always fit, and two, when you’re the wrong side of 30, I don’t think you can ask for four-year contracts. You simply can’t, you get a two-year at best. So if he’s demanding that and it’s that or nothing, then I think Chelsea have to let him go.”
Minto is right about Kante’s injury issues. The former Leicester City midfielder has struggled to remain fit for a considerable time. As a result, he has been missing games at a good rate in the last two to three seasons.
Keeping that in mind and also that the player is 31 now, offering a more than two-year extension could be risky business. The board was sensible in putting an offer on the table that has a third-year attached from the outside, just to make sure he stays for that extra year if he signs an extension and does extremely well in those two years.
While the idea was great, Kante isn’t accepting that. Hence, the club need to be sensible and look for replacements from January onwards.
Till then, Graham Potter will have the chance to get the best out of a player who always makes Chelsea better whenever he plays. He was in the final rehab procedure ahead of the AC Milan game, therefore was not in the squad.
More Chelsea News:
- Kalidou Koulibaly says he will be ‘ready’ for Olivier Giroud against AC Milan
- Leandro Trossard responds to him being linked with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal
- Chelsea manager Graham Potter will not indulge in contract talks with N’Golo Kante
The Blues won the game 3-0 without him anyway. Expect the Frenchman to potentially make an appearance at the weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The next few months could be crucial for him to put in performances that warrant the club bowing down to his demands.
