Barcelona 'closing in on agreement for N'Golo Kante'

Barcelona are reportedly nearing an agreement with Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante over a move to Camp Nou on a free transfer at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Frenchman's current contract with the Catalan giants is due to expire next June, and he is not expected to sign a new deal with Graham Potter's side.

Kante has made 262 appearances for Chelsea since arriving from Leicester City in the summer of 2016, contributing 13 goals and 15 assists in the process.

The 31-year-old has won the Premier League title, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time in the English capital.

Kante was again a key player for the club during the 2021-22 campaign, making 42 appearances in all competitions, including 26 outings in the Premier League.

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However, the midfielder has only made two appearances for Chelsea this season, which came against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League in the first two games of the campaign.

Kante has been out with a hamstring problem since, and it was confirmed in the middle of October that he had undergone an operation to address the issue.

The Frenchman is currently with the Chelsea squad in Abu Dhabi as part of a mid-season break, with the team due to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

However, the experienced midfielder will not be available for at least another couple of months.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding his future over the last few months, with a number of clubs said to be keeping a close eye on his contract situation.

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According to Sport, Kante has been in contact with Barcelona 'for weeks', and a broad agreement over a move to Camp Nou has already been reached.

The report claims that the Catalan outfit want to check that Kante does not have any lasting issues from his hamstring problem before closing a deal, but they are confident that the Frenchman will prove his fitness.

The former Leicester City midfielder would allegedly have to accept a pay cut to make the move to Camp Nou, but he wants to join Xavi's side over any other club.

Barcelona will be in the market for at least one new midfielder next year, as Sergio Busquets is likely to leave the club following the expiration of his contract.

Meanwhile, there has also been speculation surrounding the future of Franck Kessie, who has struggled to settle at Camp Nou since his arrival on a free transfer from AC Milan.