Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is in advanced talks over a new contract to extend his stay at the club.

What's going on with Kante at Chelsea?

The midfielder has been absent for most of the season with injury while his team has suffered a poor run of form, putting manager Graham Potter under increased pressure.

Enzo Fernandez arrived for a British-record fee in the January transfer window, but the departure of fellow midfielder Jorginho means that there should be room for Kante in the side when he makes his return.

The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season, but it now seems that he could sign fresh terms to remain at the club beyond the summer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that he is in advanced talks with the club, and it seems much more likely he will stay than in previous months.

He said: "What we can say is that the negotiations between N'Golo Kante and Chelsea over a new contract are progressing very well. It is not a done deal yet, but the negotiations are very advanced.

"So we can say that Chelsea and N'Golo Kante are closer now. In November, December, the new deal was really unlikely because the first meetings were not that positive between Kante and Chelsea.

"Then the player had a crucial role in the negotiation, because he loves London, he loves the club, he loves Chelsea, and so he really wants to continue there. N'Golo Kante's giving top priority to Chelsea, so now it is about the length of the contract they are discussing, and then this is going to be a crucial point to understand the future of N'Golo Kante.

"If in November or December, it was maybe 30-40% for N'Golo Kante to stay. Now we are close to 60-70% for Kante to continue at Chelsea, but let's see how the negotiation will continue to the final stages, and it's really important for Kante to return as soon as possible."

Will Kante be the same player as before?

At 31, Kante's best years may be beyond him, and his lengthy injury spells may mean that he struggles upon his return to the side.

However, given Chelsea's high turnover of players in the last two transfer windows, an experienced player like Kante, who has won nearly every trophy on offer in his time at Stamford Bridge, could be useful to help younger players such as Fernandez settle at the club.

Even if he has to settle for a rotational role, Kante may still have a big part to play at Chelsea, and given his admiration for the club and his popularity amongst the players, a contract extension could be a good move for all parties as the club await his return to action.

Therefore, this seems like a positive breakthrough for all concerned.