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Juventus join Real Madrid in race for Leicester star N’Golo Kante in £20million deal

Europe's giants make their moves as Foxes star becomes one of most wanted men in football

JUVENTUS have joined Real Madrid in the race to sign Leicester midfielder N'Golo Kante.

The Italian giants are tracking Kante as they look to bolster their midfield options with Paul Pogba likely to leave the club.

 Juventus have now joined Real Madrid in the race to sign N'Golo Kante
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Juventus have now joined Real Madrid in the race to sign N'Golo KanteCredit: Getty Images

News of their interest comes a day after it was revealed Real Madrid have made the France international one of their top summer targets.

Kante has a £20million release clause in his current contract with the Premier League champions who are desperate to keep him at the King Power Stadium.

But they face a tough task convincing the 25-year-old to stay now that the cream of Europe's biggest clubs are all wanting him.

Italian paper  claims Juve have made contact with Leicester to find out the exact terms of Kante's contract.

 Europe's biggest clubs are interested in NGolo Kante who has a £20million release clause in his contract with Leicester
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Europe's biggest clubs are interested in NGolo Kante who has a £20million release clause in his contract with LeicesterCredit: Reuters
 N'Golo Kante played a key role in helping Leicester win the Premier League title
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N'Golo Kante played a key role in helping Leicester win the Premier League titleCredit: EPA
 Kante will miss France's Euro 2016 quarter-final through suspension after collecting his second yellow card after the competition against Republic of Ireland
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Kante will miss France's Euro 2016 quarter-final through suspension after collecting his second yellow card after the competition against Republic of IrelandCredit: Reuters

The Serie A champions fear losing key midfielder Pogba this summer with Real and Manchester United desperate to sign him.

They also want to provide fresh legs into their midfield with doubts over the long-term future of Claudio Marchisio in a holding role.

But they face a battle with Champions League winners Real to get Kante after Zinedine Zidane decided he wanted to take his countryman to the Bernabeu.

They see Kante as a player who could perform a similar role to the one Claude Makelele used to do to huge effect at the club and the buy-out clause makes him a cheap option.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is keen to keep hold of Kante as he plots the club's defence of the title and also their first appearance in the Champions League.

But he has also been planning for life without the midfielder, with £13.2million Nampalys Mendy on his way from Nice.

 

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