X

WORLD FOOTBALL

NEWSSCORESTEAMSTRANSFER RUMORS

    Report: N'Golo Kante to Receive New Chelsea Contract Among the Top Wages in EPL

    Tom Sunderland@@TomSunderland_Featured ColumnistNovember 15, 2018

    LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Ngolo Kante of Chelsea warms up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on November 4, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
    Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

    Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is reportedly set to become one of the highest earners in the Premier League and could sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge "in the coming weeks."

    L'Equipe reported the new contract will dampen the spirits of suitors Paris Saint-Germain, whose hopes of signing the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner are said to be fading (h/t Sport Witness).

    Michael Potts of the Daily Express reported in July that Kante earns "around £120,000 per week" with Chelsea, so he could be set to earn a considerable increase on that salary.

    In fact, Gary Jacob wrote for The Times in July that the west London club wanted to make the France international their top earner on £290,000 per week.

    Sport Witness added further context to the report and said Kante wishes to stay in London:

    Sport Witness @Sport_Witness

    N'Golo Kante | Renewal talks should be finished, positively, soon, explain L'Equipe. Midfielder wants to stay at Chelsea and will become one of Premier League's best paid players. https://t.co/PwIZvhPidE #cfc https://t.co/2roNy2bPaT

    Manager Maurizio Sarri has clearly taken a liking to the midfielder considering Kante has yet to miss a minute of Chelsea's Premier League campaign, with the Blues sitting four points off leaders Manchester City and remain unbeaten.

    Report: N'Golo Kante to Receive New Chelsea Contract Among the Top Wages in EPL
    Video Play Button
    ✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Right Arrow Icon

    Restoring that sense of title contention will have been a big priority for the club after they finished fifth in the league under Sarri's predecessor, Antonio Conte, last season. Before that, Kante had a 100 per cent Premier League title record, winning back-to-back crowns with Leicester City and the Blues.

    Their prospects are looking a lot brighter, and Chelsea's midfield has been refreshed by the summer arrivals of Jorginho from Napoli and Mateo Kovacic on loan from Real Madrid.

    Kante recently said he was enjoying his time under Sarri, who has at times deployed the 27-year-old further forward than he's perhaps used to:

    Simon Phillips @SiPhillipsSport

    N’Golo Kante - ”I am enjoying the new role. It is a new challenge for me. I try to understand the move and the right player combinations. I think we are doing well. We need to keep working and keep improving and I think we can enjoy a good season together." https://t.co/XegEwHZZgd

    Talk of wages to match the highest earners in the English top flight is deserved after several seasons of remarkable consistency, with this season his first sign of wavering in Sarri's new system.

    Fox Sports pundit Alexi Lalas said the former Leicester marvel is among the best midfielders in the English top flight, and it's arguable he is one of the best in the world:

    FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

    N'Golo Kante is one. Obviously. Who else makes @AlexiLalas' Top 3 Premier League midfielders? For more, subscribe to Alexi's State of the Union Podcast: https://t.co/vPwurc6a6B https://t.co/BODJa5o9Ce

    Sarri's fluid blueprint relies heavily on the midfield to glue the system together, and a presence as talented as Kante, who can sit or move from box to box, is of huge value to the team.

    His contract has two-and-a-half years left to run, but Chelsea look set to secure their man's loyalties with wage that matches his contributions.