Chelsea hit snag in contract talks with key midfielder; offer from Saudi Arabia on the table

Chelsea hit snag in N’Golo Kante contract talks with Saudi offer on the table

Chelsea are not getting closer to seeing N’Golo Kante sign a new contract, as per reputed transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The French midfielder could leave as a free agent this summer, with an offer from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club on the table. Chelsea were in advanced talks with Kante over a new deal until very recently.

Now, Romano claims that the midfielder’s future at Stamford Bridge is unclear once again. There is no denying that he is one of our finest midfielders in recent decades.

Since signing from Leicester City in the summer of 2016, he has given us a series of amazing seasons. But he has evidently been on the decline, with injuries not helping his cause.

Chelsea FC will go on with or without Kante

He is 32 years old and not getting any younger. It will be dangerous to hand a big contract to a player in his 30s who has had a worrying injury record recently.

Kante does, however, offer immense experience and can impart a lot of knowledge on the young players Chelsea have brought in – particularly Enzo Fernandez, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka.

But we have to be careful that the financial aspects of keeping Kante at the Bridge don’t get out of hand. We have been investing heavily under owner Todd Boehly and must keep our spending in check.

More Chelsea News:

• Chelsea will need to fork out £40m to secure Brentford star David Raya
• Fabrizio Romano reveals Mauricio Pochettino has urged Chelsea to sign Manuel Ugarte
• Chelsea legend Emmanuel Petit believes Raheem Sterling has been the biggest flop of the season for Chelsea

This includes contracts that we offer in the coming windows to the current players. Seeing the back of Kante would be painful but in recent months, Chelsea fans would have more or less prepared for life without him. If he leaves, we must sign a replacement – there is no doubt about that. Manuel Ugarte of Sporting CP is a name that comes to mind.