Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante could leave this summer on expiration of his contract. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Chelsea have made progress regarding their talks with N’Golo Kante regarding a new deal.
The Frenchman joined the Blues from Leicester City in 2016 and has since established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football. He has made 262 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and assisting 15 more.
However, injuries have severely limited the 31-year-old’s time at the club over the last few seasons. To put it into context, he has missed 81 games thanks to injuries since the beginning of the 2019/20 season. Kante also missed out on France’s 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar.
With just six months to go on his current contract, there was the risk of Kante leaving Stamford Bridge for free next summer. However, it would appear that Chelsea have renewed hope of holding onto their midfield general.
This is in stark contrast to negotiations from back in September where Kante rejected Chelsea’s offer for a two-year proposal. The veteran is seeking to protect his long-term future and is keen to sign a longer deal.
The Blues for their part view the Frenchman as a legend and are keen to see him stay put. Whether it will translate into an offer that the 31-year-old finds compelling remains to be seen.
While he might not be a regular starter in the years to come, Kante will still have much to offer in terms of wisdom and experience. With Todd Boehly keen to bring in youth talents, it is imperative that Chelsea keep senior heads capable of teaching the kids what it means to don the Blue jersey.
Chelsea are in the midst of a rebuild and will need to revamp the midfield. Jorginho is also in a similar boat and will be a free agent next summer. Whether he too will be offered fresh terms or not remains to be seen. If all goes well, the Blues could strengthen their squad further while still retaining the wise men in midfield.
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