Liverpool have been tipped to complete the signing of Chelsea midfielder and Premier League legend N'Golo Kante this summer ahead of the expiry of his contract in west London...
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The Frenchman has been a stalwart for Chelsea since his £30m move from Leicester City in 2016, going on to win a plethora of major honours and individual accolades, and he is now of interest to Jurgen Klopp's Reds.
With the 31-year-old out of contract at the end of the season, reports from Spain (via Football 365) emerged this week that that Klopp has personally urged club owners FSG to make an offer to land Kante on a free transfer when his contract concludes at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has since implored his former club to sign a colossus who can reinject some vigour into the midfield on Merseyside.
He told ESPN: "You know you are getting a player, a gentleman and an experienced winner. He’s the whole package. The nicest guy in the world. Fantastic in the dressing room. You are getting everything.
"If I am Madrid, Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern, or any of the so-called big guys. If this guy is on a free, then I am signing him.”
Henderson upgrade
Kante is a serial winner. Since arriving in the Premier League with Leicester for a paltry £5.6m, the box-to-box ace has won two top-flight titles - monumentally starring in the Foxes' iconic 2015/16 campaign before his move to Stamford Bridge - along with the Champions League, World Cup and several other major honours.
Hailed as “one of the best” by his former Blues boss Antonio Conte, he has made 222 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 12 goals and providing 16 assists. Despite his recent injury concerns, his inclusion in a team suffering from lack of potency and intensity, much like Klopp's withered Liverpool, could produce huge rewards.
Potentially available on a free transfer, it seems something of a no-brainer to reinstall the energy which has been notably absent on Merseyside this term after years of commendable work under Klopp's tutelage.
As per FBref, the “astounding” Kante - as dubbed by sport writer Ben McKenna - ranks among the top 6% of midfielders in Europe's five main leagues for both shot-creating actions and dribbles completed, illustrating his progressive, forward-thinking nature.
He is also among the top 15% for tackles and interceptions, and it is this bustling, high-octane approach which would fit the Reds' system like a tailor-made glove.
He could replace Liverpool stalwart and captain Jordan Henderson, who has been at the epicentre of the issues which have plagued the Reds this season.
Henderson has made 472 outings for his current club, scoring 33 goals and supplying 59 assists, and has indeed donned the armband throughout the prosperous era which has seen the club land a plethora of major trophies, most memorably that long-awaited Premier League title in 2020.
However, Liverpool reporter Steve Smith encapsulates the conundrum, writing that the 32-year-old's "tank is close to empty", and it is clear that someone of Kante's ilk could represent a significant and much-needed upgrade.
As per FBref, the Frenchman has outperformed his English compatriot throughout their respective careers in terms of shots on target percentage, pass completion, blocks and tackles made, dribble success and ball recoveries. This indicates that Kante would improve the Reds' midfield both in and out of possession.
Liverpool are in a bit of turmoil right now, and while Champions League qualification for 2023/24 looks a steep task, having fallen ten points off Manchester United in the top four, the opportunity to write a successful new chapter in the club's distinguished history could begin with a swoop for potential free agent Kante.