PSG Transfer News: N'Golo Kante Explains Snub, Fresh Marco Verratti Rumours

N'Golo Kante has revealed he turned down an offer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in favour of joining Chelsea from Leicester City for around £30 million.

The French midfielder said he opted for the move to Stamford Bridge over PSG after conversations with the Blues hierarchy, per Le Parisien (via Colin Harvey in the Daily Star):

"It's true that PSG were like other clubs after my good season with Leicester. But I chose Chelsea after speaking to the coach and the sporting director. And I don't regret it. What's more, the league and the style of play in England pleases me."

Kante began his senior career in France playing for Boulogne and Caen before transferring to Leicester for just €8 million (£5.6 million) in the summer in 2015.

He then played a key role in Leicester's extraordinary Premier League title triumph in 2015-16 and reproduced his superb form to win the title again at Chelsea in 2016-17, being crowned PFA Player of Year as a result.

Kante is now widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, and he could have been a huge asset at PSG had they been able to persuade him to join.

Meanwhile, it looks as though the Ligue 1 giants will have to ward off significant interest from Barcelona if they want to keep Marco Verratti this summer.

Per Sport, Barca are prepared to play a long game in order to seal a move for Verratti, 24, and are expected to make an offer for him after he told PSG executives he wants to leave the club.

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Sport's report added the current reported figure attached to Verratti of €100 million (£87.5 million) is too high for Barca, and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu could play a key role in negotiations. The Blaugrana may also need Verratti to state publicly he wants to move to the Camp Nou.

Clearly, it is far from certain that the Italian midfielder will leave the Parc des Princes this summer given the firm position PSG will likely take, but Barca are prepared to enter fierce negotiations.