N’Golo Kante is pushing Barcelona for a pre-contract agreement ahead of a potential summer exit from Chelsea.
Kante is out of contract at the end of the season and is understood to have received several proposals over a free transfer move, with Barcelona having held ‘advanced negotiations’ over a deal to take the France international to the Camp Nou.
Sport are reporting that Barcelona view Kante as the best profile to add to their midfield options, having also considered Chelsea teammate Jorginho and Leicester’s Youri Tielemans as players who can be added to the squad on a free transfer next summer.
However, the Spanish side have not made a concrete decision on Kante and the midfielder is reportedly pushing Barcelona into deciding on a deal. The 31-year-old has several ‘important offers on the table’ and is keen to make a swift decision on his future.
Kante has struggled with fitness issues in recent seasons and has made just two Premier League appearances during the current campaign. He has not featured since sustaining a hamstring problem in the draw with Tottenham on August 14.
Barcelona’s first-choice target is believed to be Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi, but there are doubts as to whether the club can meet his €60m release clause. Wolves’
Ruben Neves has also been considered as the Catalans pursue a replacement for Sergio Busquets.
