As reported by Foot Mercato and confirmed by sources contacted by Get French Football News, Saudi 1st division side Al Nassr, who are currently coached by Frenchman Rudi Garcia, have taken a particular interest in signing French World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté on a free transfer in summer when his current contract with Chelsea expires.
The 31-year-old has been beset with injury problems over the last 18 months, which resulted in him not being fit enough to be selected for France’s World Cup 2022 charge, which ended in the final last Sunday against Argentina.
The Al Nassr board, who are also seeking to close the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in the coming days, are being used, according to Get French Football News sources, by the Saudi ruling state in attract as big names as possible to the country in a strategy that all forms part of their attempts to win their bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
The Frenchman is very attached to London and will seek to move to another club in the English capital if an extension is not offered by Chelsea as a first port of call.
However, Kanté is not specifically against a move to Saudi Arabia and will keep all options open.
In the Saudi Arabian 1st division, squad registration rules dictate that you can have a maximum of 7 foreign players in your squad. Al Nassr currently have 8, including Vincent Aboubakar, Luiz Gustavo and Alvaro Gonzalez. At least two will need to be sold this January in order to facilitate Ronaldo’s potential arrival, with further departures required in summer if the club is to successfully sign N’Golo Kanté.
James Thorpe | GFFN
