N’Golo Kante is the focus of this morning’s news, with multiple sources reporting that two Saudi Arabian clubs have sent emissaries to London to try and sign the midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of this month.
Matt Law in the Daily Telegraph adds some interesting detail, claiming that Chelsea are Kante had been very close to signing a new deal which was heavily incentivised to reward him for playing, before his latest injury. There is now a “real possibility he could leave Stamford Bridge.”
One of the offers made by one of the Saudi clubs (both Al Ittihad and Al Shabab are interested) is said to be worth £86m, once all image rights and bonuses are included. That’s more than Chelsea could offer, and even more than Kante was hoping for, according to this piece.
It’s also reported as a “blow” for new coach Mauricio Pochettino, who looked into signing Kante while PSG manager. Chelsea hoped that the confirmation of the Argentine as their new coach would seal a deal with Kante, but all of that seems to have been dashed by this monstrous offer from the Middle East.
Also mentioned in the piece is Saudi interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, another player the Blues are keen to sell this summer. That one will be less of a blow to us, and in fact could prove useful as we desperately look to get him off the books.
