N'Golo Kante faces an increasingly uncertain future at Chelsea with his contract set to expire at the end of the season – and Arsenal are said to be circling the situation. The 32-year-old has only recently returned from a hamstring issue which he picked up in August, and he's already turning heads upon his return to action.
Despite having signed Jorginho in January, Mikel Arteta is believed to still be in the market for a new midfielder as he's looks to further bolster his options. Arsenal were heavily linked with Moises Caicedo but, despite the Brighton star's best efforts to force a move, a switch failed to materialise.
football.london understands that the Gunners still hold an interest in both Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. With Arsenal seemingly desperate for a new midfielder, the Blues midfielder has emerged as a potential option who could be acquired relatively easily if he decides to leave Stamford Bridge.
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So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest headlines regarding Kante's potential move to Arsenal in the summer.
Chelsea 'confident'
The Blues are very confident that Kante will sign a new contract before his current deal expires in a few months' time, football.london understands. It's said senior figures are adamant that he can still play a big part in the club's plans going forward.
Arsenal enquiry
Arsenal prioritised a move for Kante before signing Jorginho in January, according to the Frenchman's entourage. In an interview with French news outlet Le Parisien, the Chelsea midfielder's representatives discussed his future.
"N’Golo would like to continue his career in London, where he has his habits," it was explained, as quoted by SportBible. "He liked working with Antonio Conte, but he has been sacked by Tottenham.
"Arsenal also made an enquiry. I think he will extend his deal at Chelsea before going to the Middle-East in two or three years."
European plan
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are both interested in signing Kante on a free transfer. The report states that Diego Simeone is looking to revamp his squad in the summer and he's hoping bring the Frenchman to the Metropolitano Stadium, with compatriots Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar already at the club.
Boehly warning
Emmanuel Petit has warned Chelsea that they would be handing their rivals a bargain if they choose to offload Kante. Speaking to Genting Casino, the former Blues and Arsenal ace said: "Kante has been tremendous for years and years. He's been running around the world all the time, but I can understand Chelsea's position.
"How can they pay so much money for someone who is always injured? He cannot play a proper game. I heard he's back from training and will be fit soon, but I understand Chelsea's position. He'll be a great bargain if he doesn't sign a contract as he'll be available for free, and some clubs will be interested in getting him for sure."
PSG approach
In March 2022, it was revealed by French new outlet Le Parisien that Kante ignored Paris Saint-Germain's advances when they tried to sign him. It's said that he reportedly refused to answer calls from the Parisians and was subject to several approaches.
The report states that PSG club chiefs tried to convince Kante move to the France capital during a time when the club was nursing an injury crisis so he chose to stay.
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