Chelsea ready to meet N’Golo Kante’s £20m release clause as Blues eye Leicester ace to replace veteran midfielder John Obi Mikel
CHELSEA are set to meet Leicester star N'Golo Kante's £20million release clause.
Kante is in high demand this summer after playing a key role in the Foxes’ historical title win, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger linked with a move before pouncing for Borussia Monchengladbach's Granit Xhaka.
The former Caen ace was one of Claudio Ranieri’s top performers last season and has been attracting interest from a number of sides including Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
But Chelsea are now ready to meet his release clause after talks stalled for Roma star Radja Nainggolan, with Antonio Conte seeing Kante as the perfect replacement for long-serving midfielder John Obi Mikel.
PSG have reportedly offered the France international a lucrative five-year deal as they vie for his signature, and Leicester fear a mass King Power exodus with Arsenal closing in on Jamie Vardy as well as PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez.
The Foxes are believed to have already lined up Nice’s Nampalys Mendy as Kante’s replacement, but the 25-year-old insists he won’t be making any decisions until his Euro 2016 campaign is over.
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He said: “I am a Leicester player. For now, I have not taken a decision even if I have been made offers.
“It will be great to play in the Champions League. I will decide my future after the Euros.”
It’s not the first time Kante’s spoken publicly about his Leicester career recently, telling L’Equipe last week: “For now, I am happy at Leicester.
“I do not pay too much attention to everything that is said. For now, I am in Leicester and I focus on the Euros.
“I think that my season at Leicester surprised everybody. People liked to see a new Premier League champion. We had a magnificent season and then my debut with France went well.
“Maybe my journey also helps compared to other people who come from amateur football. I try to stay the same. I am not aware that my personality is different.”