Chelsea midfield star N'Golo Kante is nearing an agreement to sign a contract with Spanish giants Barcelona in the coming weeks, according to reports. It comes as the Frenchman nears the end of his current deal at Stamford Bridge, which could see him leave on a free transfer.
Kante has been a crucial player for the Blues since joining them from Leicester City, guiding the side to a Premier League and a Champions League with his impressive performances. However, his influence has dwindled in recent years, with injuries becoming a huge problem for the midfielder.
When asked earlier this season about his contract situation, Graham Potter told reporters that his injury situation is more important. He said: "The most important thing for us and for me is that we help him get fit. That's the focus. He's got a long road ahead of him so we have to make sure that we get him the right treatment, we help him get back fit and strong, and once he's enjoying his football we can think about those things then."
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With questions over whether his lack of appearances will result in staying or leaving Chelsea in the summer, plenty of teams have been linked with a move. One of those sides are Arsenal, with the side looking to potentially add further depth in their midfield ranks in the coming few transfer windows.
However, both London clubs could soon learn the transfer fate of Kante in January as a report from Spanish outlet Sport claims that the 31-year-old is nearing a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona. It means that the France international could confirm a deal with the Blaugrana in January.
It comes as manager Xavi looks to shore up his own midfield, with the Spanish giants making heavy use of the free agent market in recent windows. It could be a blow to both Arsenal and Chelsea, who may be unable to act on offering a deal to Kante before his joins Barca.
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