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Arsenal eyeing move for Chelsea star N’Golo Kante

By on October 19, 2022

N'Golo Kante

Arsenal are reportedly showing interest in signing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, as per the report in the 90min.

The 31-year-old has been an integral part of the Blues’ success since joining the club back in 2016. The Frenchman played a key role in Chelsea’s Premier League title charge back in 2017 before lifting the Europa League a couple of seasons later. He also aided the Stamford Bridge outfit in winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup in 2021. He won the World Cup with the France national team last time around in Russia.

However, the midfielder’s game time has been restricted this campaign due to his injury issues. Kante has made only two Premier League appearances so far this season and is set to miss out on playing at the World Cup – which starts next month – owing to a hamstring problem.

According to the report by the 90min, Chelsea have been in contact with Kante’s representatives regarding a new deal, given his current contract will expire at the end of this season. But, Graham Potter’s side are in a dilemma about whether to give a new contract to the midfielder, considering his persistent injury problems. On top of that, the Frenchman is asking for a big salary hike that the Stamford Bridge hierarchy are reluctant to match.

The report further claims that if Chelsea could not find an agreement to extend Kante’s deal, then they are open to letting him leave for free, but their biggest concern is that London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the two clubs who are keen on making a move for the Frenchman and the Blues ‘don’t want’ their star player to join a direct rival.

Kante to Arsenal

Kante is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and he could be a very good addition to Arteta’s squad. He’s currently valued at £36m by Transfermarkt so to get him for free would be excellent business. However, the Gunners’ hierarchy should think twice before making a move for the France international.

Arsenal need a holding midfielder and Kante might be a very good acquisition, however, the Frenchman enjoys success when he is deployed in midfield two and given the freedom to go forward and make surging runs.

However, I believe Arteta wants a playmaking holding midfielder who likes to sit deep in front of the back four and can play threading passes between the lines. Kante is a completely different type of player to what the Spanish boss wants as his defensive midfielder.

So, it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal would make a move for Kante if he becomes available. I don’t think he would be the right candidate to play in Arteta’s system as a deep-lying midfielder, on top of that, the 31-year-old has been struggling with his injury problems and the Gunners shouldn’t sign an injury-prone player, given they are rebuilding a squad to challenge for big prizes.