West Ham United told to be ‘very careful’ as new N’Golo Kante transfer update emerges
Jason Cundy has told West Ham United to be “very careful” and admitted he is “very concerned” by their transfer push for N’Golo Kante.
The Hammers have seen a verbal transfer offer of £15million turned down by Al-Ittihad for the World Cup winner, with the Saudi side unwilling to let the French international depart for less than £25million this summer [David Ornstein, 19 July].
Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday (19 July, 18:45) he said: “Be very careful because N’Golo’s injury record in the Premier League in his last two seasons at Chelsea, he really did struggle with injuries.
“I think one of the reasons he’s had a bit of a renaissance in his career is the fact that he’s been playing in the Saudi Pro League, which is very differently taxing on the body. The level of football and the intensity in the Premier League is very different and I would be very, very concerned.
“Top player, we saw in the Euros how good he was, but I wouldn’t.”
Will West Ham United sign N’Golo Kante in the summer transfer window?
Kante showed during this summer’s Euros that when he is fit and firing, he is still one of the world’s best-holding midfielders. The issue for the Hammers will be, how do you keep him injury-free?
As Cundy suggested, his last few seasons at Stamford Bridge saw him sidelined far too often as he struggled to cope with the intensity of the Premier League and was unable to remain available week in and week out.
West Ham aren’t crying out for midfield reinforcements this summer and it is now down to them whether they want to test Al-Ittihad with another offer or instead pursue a deal for a new striker or defensive additions.
Kante is 33 now and his best years are quite obviously behind him. Do the Irons want to spend upwards of £25million on a player with no sell-on value who may not even be able to cope with the English top flight?
They do have to be careful in how they approach this situation.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are planning new transfer talks with Jean-Clair Todibo after a new Juventus transfer update
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