West Ham United may already have the ‘new’ Kante in young Mohamadou, but could the original make a return to the Premier League as well? Chelsea icon N’Golo is certainly not short of offers.
As Fabrizio Romano explains, a number of clubs based in England’s top flight have made contact with a midfielder who won the title with both Leicester City and Chelsea.
If reports are to be believed, West Ham United are one of them.
West Ham made an ‘enquiry’ for N’Golo Kante last week, per Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport. And who better than the O.G Kante to mentor his young namesake?
N’Golo Kante has been linked with West Ham…😍
How can Nuno get the best out of him?
If Mohamadou Kante is a ‘modern Premier League midfielder’ in waiting, then the 2018 World Cup winner arguably remains the prototype for what most clubs tend to look for in an all-action, centre-of-the-park enforcer.
Speaking on his official YouTube channel though, Romano insists that West Ham, Everton and a number of other interested parties have left it too late. Fenerbahce have a deal for the 34-year-old Al-Ittihad veteran all-but nailed down.
Fabrizio Romano on why West Ham United are unlikely to sign Fenerbahce-bound N’Golo Kante
What this means for Edson Alvarez, though, remains to be seen.
West Ham will make £19 million if Fenerbahce sign Alvarez on a permanent basis next summer. But with the Mexico captain struggling with injuries, the Hammers may be fearing that Kante’s arrival will mean that option-to-buy clause in Alvarez’s contract goes untouched.
“Fenerbahce are pushing and pushing to try to get the N’Golo Kante deal done with Al-Ittihad,” Romano says. “The agreement with the player is almost done – just fixing some details.
“Fenerbahce are insisting. Why? Because they know some Premier League clubs over the weekend called the agents of N’Golo Kante. Fenerbahce are aware of English clubs trying to understand if there is some space, some way, to enter into the Kante deal.
“And so, Fenerbahce remain convinced that the player wants to join them, that the player wants to get this opportunity to move to Turkey and to go to Fenerbahce. So they are insisting, they’re pushing. The agreement with the player, again, is at the final stages.
“Club-to-club, they are waiting to unlock the deal with Al-Ittihad, but the deal is on for Kante to Fenerbahce.
“Meanwhile, also Flamengo keep working with West Ham for Lucas Paqueta. And so, these two stories – international, big players – remain absolutely, absolutely ongoing.”
Lucas Paqueta set for Flamengo as Keiber Lamadrid arrives
How Keiber Lamadrid could fit into West Ham’s U21 side!
Which youngsters are YOU most excited about?
Speaking of a certain playmaker, Brazilian reporter Pablo Rua now claims that Paqueta could become a Flamengo player at some point over the next 24 hours.
From an imminent outgoing to an expected incoming, West Ham are reportedly signing Keiber Lamadrid from Deportivo la Guaira on an initial loan deal.
Venezuela international Keiber will represent the Hammers’ Under-21 side initially – alongside Mohamadou Kante and co – as he looks to secure a permanent £870,000 transfer.
“Paqueta returned to West Ham’s [training ground] on Tuesday, but did not end up training with his teammates,” Rua says. “The player spoke with the coach [Nuno] once again and left the training ground shortly afterward.
“The midfielder continues waiting for Flamengo’s new official proposal and the resolution of the situation with the club.
“After the meeting, [Flamengo] finalised the terms of the official proposal that was sent to the London club. The amount came close to West Ham’s asking price, which hovers around 45 million euros.
“From the player’s side, the mood is optimistic. Paqueta is excited about the chance of an immediate deal and believes the outcome could happen in the next few hours. From now on, the progress of the negotiation will essentially depend on West Ham’s response.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
