According to The Guardian, Premier League side West Ham United are negotiating with Al-Ittihad over a move to bring France international midfielder N’Golo Kanté (33) back to the Premier League. Talks are reportedly ongoing between the two parties over a deal worth €23 million, with a willingness on both sides to conclude an agreement.
After seven years at Chelsea, Kanté moved to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, joining fellow France international Karim Benzema. Yet, following a successful Euro 2024 campaign with France, the defensive midfielder showed his ability to still play at the highest level.
In a press conference attended by Get French Football News, the 2018 World Cup winner opened the door to a return to European football ahead France’s final Euro 2024 group game against Poland.
“No it’s not finished yet,” replied Kanté when asked whether he was done with European football. “In Saudi, a new kind of football, a new experience,” added the former Leicester City and Chelsea man. “But I’m enjoying my return [to this level]. It’s great to be back with the French team and I’m touched by it. But that’s not a question I’m asking myself today,” finished the Frenchman.
Kanté was named as UEFA’s man of the match in his first two Euro 2024 matches with France, following a surprise call-up to the national team by manager Didier Deschamps. It had been thought that Kanté’s international career was over when he made the switch from Chelsea to Al Ittihad on a free transfer last summer. The move to Saudi Arabia came after an injury-hit 12 months at Chelsea, during which he struggled to maintain fitness.
GFFN | George Boxall
