N’Golo Kante is reportedly close to extending his Chelsea stay, as he prepares for a comeback to the first team.
The France international has had the most miserable season of his career, having been out since the middle of August due to a hamstring injury.
While the World Cup winner had hoped to be back in October, a setback in his recovery required surgery, resulting in a four-month absence.
The 31-year-fitness old’s troubles coincided with the end of his contract, prompting speculation over whether Chelsea executives would try to cut their losses with a high-earner.
It appeared to become more plausible as Chelsea signed a slew of January signings, including midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a club and British record amount.
Yet, rumours recently surfaced that Kante intended to extend his stay in West London, where he has resided since 2016, and that the parties involved were attempting to reach an agreement.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea and Kante are both confident that an agreement will be reached soon.
As things stand, it’s unknown whether any contract will be two years with a 12-month extension, three years with the same clause, or a straight three-year deal.
See Also: Alfie Whiteman Extends Contract With Tottenham Until 2025
According to a previous source, Kante is looking for the longest contract possible in order to establish some certainty about his future.
Kante has made 262 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, with the highlight being a man-of-the-match showing in the Champions League victory over Manchester City in May 2021.
With Kante having returned to training in recent days, there is hope that he will be able to show his fitness in time for the second leg of that competition’s last-16 clash with Borussia Dortmund on March 7.
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