West Ham United want to seal immediate N’Golo Kante deal as main issue named in transfer talks
West Ham are pushing to get a deal done with “immediate effect” to sign N’Golo Kanté from Al-Ittihad, Florian Plettenberg reports.
According to the Sky Sports Germany journalist via X on 19 July the Hammers’ “biggest problem” in completing a deal is likely to be the World Cup winner’s salary, reported by The Guardian to be worth up to €100million [£86.2m] a year.
But they are “very keen” to bring the former Chelsea star back to the Premier League and are willing to pay £20m as he has two years left on his contract in the Saudi Pro League.
The Guardian first reported on 18 July that the two sides were engaged in talks and both were showing a willingness to get the deal done.
West Ham face salary issues with former Chelsea and Leicester star
It isn’t often that high-profile players are signed away from the SPL rather than to it unless they are pushing to depart in the style of Jordan Henderson [ESPN, 19 January].
The huge contracts that have been signed in recent seasons are likely a major reason for that and for once the shoe is on the other foot for a Premier League side.
Usually the riches on offer in the English top flight make it hard for European clubs to sign players away but in this case the financial might lies elsewhere.
A £20m fee for a 33-year-old is steep on paper but there are few players in world football who the ability of Kanté when fit as he reiterated with his performances for France at Euro 2024.
If he is willing to take a significant cut in pay then perhaps a deal can be done which would majorly strengthen Julen Lopetegui’s midfield in the short term with a man he has long coveted [Guardian, 18 July].
Even at his age signing Kanté would arguably be the most high-profile Irons arrival for some years and certainly of the summer so far after Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham and Max Kilman.
If talks have been held already there must be some belief from Tim Steidten that it is possible but whether the German can get it over the line remains to be seen.
In other West Ham news, a Premier League ace who the Hammers are trying to sign wants to move to London.
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