Fabrizio Romano is taking up the story N’Golo Kante’s departure from Chelsea, which appears to be closing in fast.
The midfielder is meeting with the representatives of Saudi clubs in London today according to the transfer insider, with both Al Ittihad and Al Nassr sending delegations to the capital to speak to him, now that his contract has expired.
There are some interesting wrinkles even within the Tweet – it claims that a deal was close in March, which it certainly felt like. Kante’s priority has always been to stay in London with Chelsea, and it really seemed a formality at one point.
🚨 EXCL: Saudi emissaries, in London to present an official proposal to N’Golo Kanté. #CFC
Salary bid could reach €100m inclusive of the image rights & commercial deals.
Al Ittihad and Al Nassr, on it.
Kanté always gave priority to new deal at Chelsea — it was close in March. pic.twitter.com/tACQjcPLPW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2023
But when you let players’ contracts wind down to nothing you expose yourself to this sort of this, and the eye watering financial offers the Saudi teams can make will dwarf anything Chelsea are willing to offer a player who has proven to be unable to stay fit for a whole season in recent years.
Romano mentions figures of €100m including image rights – those figures are just beyond our reach for a player we can’t count on all season.
Not long after we thought we were getting another year or two, it seems like Kante is out of the picture for good. That creates a huge gap in our midfield, especially with other departures expected. Perhaps two new signings will now be required to reinstate a solid group for the season to come.
Good luck my favorite player and the Blue’s legend! N’GOLO KANTE “unforgettable player”
One of the best midfield Chelsea have that good played
Excellent reward for Kante.
He deserves it.
The idiots are those that didn’t see this coming…