West Ham United in 8-figure transfer talks to sign former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante
West Ham are in transfer talks over a deal to sign French international star N’Golo Kanté, according to The Guardian.
The paper reported via their website late on 18 July that negotiations for the 33-year-old are ongoing and th is a “willingness on both sides” to get the deal done.
The Irons would have to pay Al-Ittihad around £20million to sign the form Chelsea star who won the Champions League with West Londoners, as well as back to back Premier League titles with Leicester and then at Stamford Bridge.
West Ham are said to be “eager” to sign a new defensive midfielder after Kalvin Phillips’ loan proved disastrous last season and wasn’t signed permanently.
West Ham want former Chelsea and Leicester title winner
Kanté may be closer to the end of his career than the start now but proved with France at Euro 2024 that he is still one of the world’s best at his position.
If Tim Steidten were to land him for Julen Lopetegui’s midfield it would have to be considered an upgrade on all the current options, although for how long he would be able to maintain such a level might be a concern.
Chelsea supporters may have been wondering why they had spent somewhere around £300m on new central midfielders after letting Kanté leave on a free transfer when he showed his quality once more this summer.
But if he were to reappear back in the Premier League at the London Stadium that would be all the more of a shock.
It is hard to argue with the move on the grounds of Kanté’s ability and the only real questions can be raised over the price-tag of a player his age and the fact that he was plagued by injuries in his final season at Stamford Bridge.
However, he bounced back from nine total appearances a year ago to play 44 times in all competitions for Al-Ittihad and then started all six games for Didier Deschamps in Germany.
The Hammers have already shelled out eight-figures to sign Wolves captain Max Kilman and Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras respectively but Kanté is surely still a cut above.
Steidten and Lopetegui may have been hoping to offload the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma to the Saudi Pro League [Dharmesh Sheth, 5 July] the most important deal done might be one to bring someone in from the Middle Eastern league.
In other West Ham news, an update has emerged on signing a second winger after personal terms were agreed.
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