As The Pitch Prospect has learned, Al Ittihad does not want to sell N’Golo Kante to West Ham this summer.
The Hammers are interested in bringing the Chelsea icon back to the Premier League as Julen Lopetegui is a huge fan.
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According to reports, the French international, who was one of the few players for “Les Bleus” to impress at the 2024 European Championship, was offered a transfer fee of £20 million.
But Al Ittihad has no interest in letting go of the 33-year-old, who has overcome his injury problems and played all but four of the Saudi Pro League games last season.
However, they face an uphill battle to keep hold of the defensive midfielder, who is not averse to a return to London in the summer.
The Hammers are in desperate need of strengthening their midfield after Kalvin Phillips endured a disappointing loan spell at Manchester City.
With the Englishman returning to the Etihad and no permanent deal in sight in East London, Lopetegui is keen to sign Kante, who has been on his radar for some time.
When the Spaniard was briefly coach of Real Madrid in 2018, he tried to sign the midfielder when he was playing for Chelsea.
After leaving Stamford Bridge on a free transfer last year, it was assumed that his fitness issues would haunt him after he made just seven Premier League appearances in the 22/23 season.
But Kante has returned to his best form at Al Ittihad and in France and his experience could be crucial for West Ham.
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In total, Kante spent eight years in England – seven at Chelsea and one at Leicester.
In his debut season in 2016, he helped the Foxes to a surprise Premier League title before achieving the same success with the Blues a year later.
The Frenchman also won the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea and was named PFA Player of the Year in 2017.
West Ham have already made three new signings in this summer’s transfer window: Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham.
The Pitch Prospect has learned that they are also interested in signing Manchester United star Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, with Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo also said to be attracting interest.