Chelsea transfer news: N’Golo Kante linked to Real Madrid and Juventus

Kante cool on Real

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has brushed off suggestions that he could be a target for Real Madrid in the summer.

Zinedine Zidane is known to be a fan of the French World Cup winner and speculation is growing in Spain that the 27-year-old Kante will be Real’s No.1 transfer target at the end of the season.

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Kante, who pockets a £290,000-a-week with Chelsea, is allegedly unhappy with being played out of position by Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge and that could be the hook which Zidane uses to entice him to the Spanish capital.

The Daily Star carries comments from Kante when asked if he could make the move to the Bernabeu. “Today I’m still at Chelsea and I still have aims here,” he replied. “What is said elsewhere is not important.”

Juventus link

Pressed on the pull of playing under a French legend, Kante said: “Even if Zidane calls me, it’s not important, I’m at Chelsea today and I’m focused on that.”

Nonetheless, says the Star, Real are determined to rebuild their ailing squad and the paper says Chelsea could find it hard to refuse a big money offer.

But according to the Italian press Juventus are eyeing Kante as the man to replace Miralem Pjanic in the event that the Bosnian midfielder quits Turin in the summer.

According to Calciomercato, Real Madrid are more interested in Pjanic than Kante and will table a £75m bid in June.

Appeal date

What may have a major influence on any decision of Kante’s is the outcome of Chelsea’s appeal after their Fifa transfer ban.

The Daily Mail reports that the hearing will take place on 11 April and the Blues hope they can get the ban overturned, otherwise they won’t be able to sign any players either this summer or next January after being found guilty of breaking the rules surrounding the transfer of minors.

That would leave them at a considerable disadvantage to their Premier League and European rivals and could possibly lead to an exodus.

Danish dismay

But not if the Blues can help it, according to defender Andreas Christensen. In an interview with Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, the 22-year-old said that if the club can’t overturn the ban they “want to keep all the players”.

That’s bad news for the Denmark international, who has barely featured this season and wants a fresh start. “The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept,” he said.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have been linked to Christensen, but like Kante he will have to wait until next month to find out if he’ll be able to leave.

Upcoming Premier League fixtures and TV guide

Saturday 30 March (3pm unless stated)

• Fulham vs. Manchester City (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
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• Crystal Palace vs. Huddersfield Town
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Sunday 31 March

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