Chelsea set N'Golo Kante asking price as Real Madrid rule out transfer for three reasons - 7M sport

Chelsea set N'Golo Kante asking price as Real Madrid rule out transfer for three reasons



Posted Sunday, April 12, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea set N'Golo Kante asking price as Real Madrid rule out transfer for three reasons
Chelsea want more than £70million for N'Golo Kante (Image: GETTY)

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge but Real Madrid have cooled their interest.

Chelsea have set an asking price for N’Golo Kante amid speculation over his future. Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is interested in signing the World Cup winner but Bernabeu bigwigs have cooled their interest for three reasons.

It has been a stop-start season for Kante due to injuries stopping him from string together a run of games. As a result, he has limited to 22 appearances in all competitions.

While Chelsea are looking to keep the French midfielder on their books, Diario Madridista claim Stamford Bridge chiefs have slapped an asking price worth between £70.3million (€80m) and £79.1million (€90m) on his head - a fee that is out of Real Madrid’s reach due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second reason the Spanish giants have dropped their interest is because of Kante’s pay packet. It is claimed he earns nearly £300,000 before tax at Stamford Bridge, which is deemed too much for the club to take on.

Kante’s age - he turned 29 last month - also counts against him because Los Blancos are looking to reinvigorate their midfield with youthful additions. Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz, 24, and Rennes’ 17-year-old sensation Eduardo Camavinga are ahead of him on the club’s wish list.

Chelsea snapped up Kante from Leicester City in 2016 after he inspired the Foxes to their shock Premier League title triumph in his maiden term in England.

He repeated the trick in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge before playing his role in the FA Cup and Europa League triumphs in subsequent seasons.

Kante has been played further up the field since the arrival of Jorginho from Napoli two summers ago.

Former Chelsea star Gus Poyet recently expressed his belief that Frank Lampard is not getting the best out of Kante because he is using him incorrectly.

Speaking to Goal, Poyet said: “In very important games Lampard went with Kante, Jorginho and [Mateo] Kovacic until the last month with injuries.

“Those are the three most experienced players who played under Sarri but now they play with more freedom, especially in Jorginho having more possibilities to move around to go sideways and forward. Last year, he was very static. There are plenty of options.

“In Kante's first year, he came to Chelsea and I made it public that he is the best central midfielder in the world. After a previous season as a number eight in that different position, we lost how important and unique he was as a player.

“I hope he can get back to that. In his best position, he is unique and there's not many players that can give you what he can do right now.”



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