N’Golo Kante is one of the many candidates Barcelona had shortlisted in their bid to replace Sergio Busquets in the coming summer.
Their pursuit of the Frenchman has been dealt with a major boost this week as the midfielder has rejected Chelsea’s latest renewal offer.
According to Standard (h/t Diario SPORT), Kante has indeed knocked back a two-year proposal from Chelsea, which included the option the renew the contract by a further year. The third year, though, would have come with a large salary reduction.
Kante has rejected this proposal, as he wants three years guaranteed in his contract, putting Chelsea in a precarious situation.
The Blues had agreed to go on with the operation to renew Kante’s contract despite the midfielder’s injury woes throughout the season. And even though the club roped in a series of new players in January, including Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez, they are still keen on renewing Kante’s contract.
The Frenchman is rated highly due to his experience and the performances he had brought to the table over the years. But the report now claims that the midfielder is not happy with the terms offered and is now holding out for Barcelona’s offer.
Barcelona’s desire to sign a new midfielder has been well-documented in recent months. However, the report adds that even the Catalan entity are not entirely sure about the Kante operation, and a lot would depend on the player’s fitness and the economic terms the player demands.
The Blaugrana may also appear apprehensive about offering Kante a three-year contract, given the fact that the midfielder has struggled with injuries and may not perform at the top of his game in the years to come.
Barça, instead, are prioritising a move for Real Sociedad starlet Martin Zubimendi, ahead of Premier League stars such as Ruben Neves and Kante.