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Chelsea make formal approach for N’Golo Kanté
New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen to land the Leicester City star.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Chelsea have made a formal approach to sign Leicester City’s midfield star N’Golo Kanté, according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano and Marcus Christenson in the Guardian. Their report states that the Blues have made an initial £27 million offer ($35.95 million U.S.), plus £3m in add-ons -- a sum likely to be rejected. However, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matić will apparently not be allowed to leave for Juventus until Kanté is signed, so there are several parties pressuring for a deal to be struck swiftly.
Considering Kanté has only spent one season at Leicester, coach Claudio Ranieri would doubtless have been hoping the Foxes would be able to hang onto him for a little longer. However, if he is to leave this summer, it’s better for them to negotiate terms as swiftly as possible. Replacing Kanté would prove difficult under any circumstance, and it would be harder still with the Premier League transfer deadline approaching.
In the news
Barcelona have completed the signing of young Paris Saint-Germain fullback Lucas Digne. (FC Barcelona)
Inter Milan defender Juan Jesus is on the brink of joining Roma. (AS Roma)
Hungary veteran Zoltán Gera has won UEFA’s Euro 2016 Goal of the Tournament. (UEFA)
FIFA’s latest rankings have Wales above neighbors England. (Sky Sports)
Zlatan Ibrahimović looks set to miss Manchester United’s preseason tour of China. (Guardian)
The two Spanish giants top Forbes’ most valuable sports teams list. (ESPNFC)
You should be reading
Owen Gibson on why England must be sure to replace Roy Hodgson with the right man. (Guardian)
Matt Gault’s nostalgic look at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. (These Football Times)
Miguel Delaney has a rundown of players who both impressed and failed to at Euro 2016. (ESPNFC)
From the rumor mill
Please don’t take anything in this section too seriously, for your own sanity.
Arsenal could make a big money move for Julian Draxler. (Mirror)
Bayern defender Medhi Benatia is having medicals with Juventus. (Football Italia)
Everton are interested in Sevilla’s veteran striker Fernando Llorente. (ESPNFC)
Stoke City are in pursuit of Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina. (Guardian)
Carlos Bacca’s imminent West Ham arrival could see Enner Valencia shipped out to Lazio. (Daily Mail)
The Spanish FA could today forward a replacement for national team coach Vicente del Bosque. (Football España)
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