Barcelona explore signing N’Golo Kante in summer transfer window

La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are negotiating with Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad regarding the potential signing of N’Golo Kante this summer. The 33-year-old midfielder, who was widely praised during his seven-year tenure at Chelsea, is considered one of the best defensive midfielders in world football.

Barcelona, along with Atletico Madrid and West Ham United, has shown interest in Kante. West Ham previously made a £20m bid, which was unsuccessful. Although Al Ittihad has expressed reluctance to sell Kante, the player himself is open to moving back to Europe. Barcelona is in ongoing discussions with Al Ittihad and is considering making a formal approach for Kante. Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, has long admired Kante and had targeted him before his move to the Middle East.

At Chelsea, Kante won the Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup. He was named Premier League and PFA Player of the Year in the 2016-17 season. He was also pivotal in Leicester City’s 2015-16 Premier League title win, a remarkable feat that showcased his exceptional skills.

After leaving Chelsea last summer, Kante signed a lucrative three-year contract with Al Ittihad worth approximately £86m per season. In his debut season with Al Ittihad, he contributed with four goals and six assists in 44 appearances. Despite his successful stint in Saudi Arabia, there are growing speculations about a potential return to European football.

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Barcelona’s Transfer Strategy

As the summer transfer window approaches its end, Barcelona is exploring options for a new holding midfielder. They have been linked with several candidates, including Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad, Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich, and Amadou Onana, who recently joined Aston Villa. However, financial constraints have limited their pursuit of certain targets. New head coach Hansi Flick has prioritised strengthening the attack, with Dani Olmo’s arrival confirmed and discussions ongoing about Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao.

If Barcelona decides against signing Kante or another midfielder, 17-year-old academy graduate Marc Bernal could be given the opportunity to start in the club’s opening La Liga fixtures.