Arsenal dealt blow as N’Golo Kante’s Chelsea exit creates transfer problem
N’Golo Kante’s departure from Chelsea could have significant implications for both Arsenal and their London rivals. Kante, who rose to prominence during Leicester City’s remarkable 2015/16 title-winning season, earned a £32 million transfer to London.
His contributions were crucial once again as Chelsea clinched the Premier League title, making him the first player since Eric Cantona in 1993 to achieve back-to-back top-flight championships in England with different clubs.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, the 32-year-old midfielder also claimed victory in the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, European Super Cup, and the 2018 World Cup with France. However, after a season plagued by injuries in 2022/23, Kante is now poised to join Cristiano Ronaldo’s team in Saudi Arabia, lured by a lucrative contract offer.
According to the Daily Mail, N’Golo Kante is reportedly on the verge of finalizing an agreement to join Al Ittihad. The deal is rumored to span two years and carry an annual value of £86 million. Interestingly, this news comes in the same week that Karim Benzema, a renowned figure at Real Madrid, confirmed his move to the Middle East.
These recent developments involving Kante are expected to prompt Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to intensify his pursuit of Moises Caicedo from Brighton. The Ecuadorian midfielder is highly regarded, with a valuation exceeding £80 million by his current club, Brighton. The Seagulls, having secured Caicedo’s signature on a new contract in January, are now in a position of strength to negotiate.
According to reports, Arsenal has already reached an agreement on personal terms with N’Golo Kante. However, no official transfer agreement has been reached, and Chelsea is also expected to make a bid for the midfielder.
Despite Arsenal’s inability to offer Kante Champions League football, Chelsea’s financial strength and their openness to a potential swap deal could pose a significant challenge for the Gunners.
Amid a disappointing 2022/23 season that saw Chelsea finish 12th, their lowest league position since the 1993/94 campaign, Mauricio Pochettino has already begun reshaping the squad. Alongside the potential departure of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are also reportedly set to leave the club. This creates a void in midfield that Moises Caicedo could be seen as an ideal candidate to fill.
If this scenario unfolds, it would be considered a significant setback for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, as they are actively seeking reinforcements to strengthen their squad. Furthermore, it would increase the pressure on their pursuit of West Ham’s Declan Rice, who is also a target for Bayern Munich. Rice is expected to play his final match for West Ham in the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday.
Arsenal dealt blow as N’Golo Kante’s Chelsea exit creates transfer problem