Rewind a couple of seasons back and the decision to hand N’Golo Kante a bumper new contract with Chelsea would have been a straightforward one.
The French World Cup winner has been a sensational presence at Stamford Bridge since his arrival from Leicester City in 2016. Having been signed for just £30m, Kante has won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and more major honours during his time as a Blue.
That aforementioned fee has proven to be one of the biggest bargains in the entire history of the West London club so it appears unfathomable that Chelsea would let the midfielder wave goodbye for nothing. However, that is a situation that could potentially transpire considering the hesitation over a new contract for the 31-year-old.
Kante’s current deal expires next summer and he would be able to leave for free come the end of that contract. He would also be able to start negotiating with foreign clubs as early as January regarding pre-contract agreements, pushing Chelsea into making a decision on his future sooner rather than later.
Paris Saint-Germain have been noted as admirers of Kante on numerous occasions in the past and according to The Sun, they would be interested in a move should he become available. In the meantime, Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester United have been credited with an interest in his signature.
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Whilst the Blues would loath to lose the 31-year-old to a major rival - both in the Champions League and Premier League - they might well be backed into a corner.
Their hesitation over Kante’s future is currently understandable. The Mail have reported that the Frenchman wants a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, something that the Blues might not be willing to facilitate.
Doubts over his fitness have emerged over recent seasons with Kante having started just 21 Premier League games last term, whilst those issues appear to have got even worse this season. The 31-year-old has been restricted to just two appearances all season having struggled with a thigh injury since mid-August.
It is certainly a massive risk, then, to hand Kante a bumper, long-term deal and considering he would be 35-years-old at the end of a four-year-deal, there is no guarantee that he would play the required games in which to justify that huge outlay.
Indeed, new boss Graham Potter has already silenced talk over a new deal by suggesting that Kante’s fitness is his priority as opposed to any transfer talk. Speaking ahead of the Blues’ Champions League victory over AC Milan, he said: “My focus at the moment is to help him rehabilitate in a good way so that he is available for us and on the pitch.
“When he is on the pitch he is a huge asset for us. The other thing is between the club and him. My focus is to help him get fit and enjoying his football. There are not many players in world football like NG, so the quicker he is back the better.”
Of course, PSG would offer Kante a warm welcome considering his quality and their desire to lift their first-ever Champions League crown. The French giants would also very easily accommodate Kante’s wages into their huge wage bill.
The decision now remains with Chelsea over whether they are willing to extend the former Leicester man’s stay at Stamford Bridge or allow him to leave for nothing with their well-wishes - a difficult conundrum.
