N’Golo Kante is reportedly interested in returning to London this summer, sparking interest from West Ham United.
According to GiveMeSport , West Ham is considering a £20 million deal for the 33-year-old World Cup winner, who currently plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. The Hammers were alerted to Kante’s desire to leave Saudi Arabia after just one year, potentially paving the way for his return to the Premier League.
Despite his hefty £400,000 per week wages, Kante is willing to take a pay cut to facilitate the move. However, he is not looking to force a transfer out of respect for Al-Ittihad, who helped him regain his spot in the French national team, as reported by L’Equipe (19 July).
West Ham may have an advantage in this potential transfer due to Kante’s preference for a London return. Other London-based clubs such as Crystal Palace and Brentford may not be able to compete financially, while Tottenham and Chelsea are looking for different types of players, and Arsenal already has stronger options in their squad.
Nevertheless, the proposed £20 million fee might be insufficient. Sky Sports Germany (19 July) indicated that any transfer fee could be significantly higher, which could pose a challenge for West Ham.
While West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui are keen on securing Kante, they need to avoid overcommitting resources to this single transfer, considering other potential alternatives in the market.
