PSG, Real Madrid ready to pounce on Kante

Chelsea could face a battle to keep French star N’Golo Kante this summer, with reports across various media outlets reporting that Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid are all keen on the France international.

The Blues have endured a disappointing 2019 and could miss out on Champions League football for the second season in a row having fallen to sixth in the Premier League table.

Maurizio Sarri’s side may yet qualify for the competition by winning the Europa League, but a failure to do so could see Kante seek pastures new.

The former Leicester man has had to adapt to a new position this season, having been deployed in a more attacking role by Sarri. The Chelsea boss has frequently been criticised for moving the ball-winner away from his favoured berth at the base of midfield, although Kante has responded with a career-high three top-flight goals.

And according to the Italian outlet, Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid are all poised to swoop for the Frenchman should Chelsea fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Italian media outlet Tuttosport, as quoted by the Daily Star, is reporting that Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is eager to sign Kante to bolster his midfielder ahead of the 2019-20 season.

According to the same story, Juventus are interested in the 27-year-old defensive midfielder who will happy about the prospects of playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, while Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with a big-money move for Kante.

Chelsea and Maurizio Sarri will be eager to keep the two-time Premier League winner and 2018 World Cup winner at Stamford Bridge, especially with Fifa’s transfer ban looming large over the west London club.

The Blues have managed to secure Kante’s future until 2023 to ensure that Chelsea FC will be in a strong position in any potential negotiations for the Frenchman.

The west London side signed Kante in a £34m deal from Leicester City in the 2016 summer transfer window after the holding midfielder helped the Foxes to win the league title in 2015-16. Maurizio Sarri also faces the possibility of losing star man Eden Hazard to the former and will be desperate to keep the Paris-born midfielder, especially with the two-window transfer ban Chelsea have been handed by FIFA.