Chelsea are allegedly closing in on agreeing a new contract with midfielder N'Golo Kante.
The World Cup winner has been absent since the second weekend of the season courtesy of suffering a hamstring injury which eventually required surgery.
However, the Frenchman was worked himself into a position where he could be selected in the squad for Saturday's Premier League fixture against Everton.
While Graham Potter has insisted that he will not rush the progression of Kante, he has acknowledged that the 31-year-old remains a key player at the club.
That is despite Chelsea containing a wide array of players for the middle of the pitch, Enzo Fernandez adding to those options in January.
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When fit, the Argentina international will be deemed to be first choice, leaving Kante to compete with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher for a starting spot.
Nevertheless, according to The Sun, Kante has signalled his intent to challenge for a regular spot in Potter's side going forward.
The report suggests that both parties are closing in on an agreement over a deal which will last until 2025, with the option of a 12-month extension.
At one point, it was claimed that Kante was pushing for a straight three-year contract, something which did not necessarily suit Chelsea due to his fitness issues.
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Throughout this season, however, there has been every indication that Kante was settled in London and did not want to leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
Although it remains unclear whether an announcement is imminent, it is expected that Kante will still be part of Chelsea's senior crop for 2023-24.
There is a perception that his stint at Stamford Bridge has been plagued by injuries, but 262 appearances have been made in all competitions since 2016.
During that time, Kante has won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Darren Plant
