Leicester City midfielder, N’Golo Kante, is almost certain to join Chelsea after reports claim he underwent a medical at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman could become Antonio Conte’s first signing since resuming his role as the Blues manager on Wednesday with a £30million transfer expected to be completed over the weekend.
Numerous reports on Friday evening claimed Chelsea had agreed a deal with Leicester, despite the champions’ best efforts to keep the France workhorse at the King Power Stadium.
Kante is understood to have passed a medical at Chelsea’s Cobham base on Friday, with confirmation of the transfer likely to come in the next 48 hours.
Leicester boss, Claudio Ranieri, said earlier this week that he was unsure of Kante’s intentions, despite the Foxes offering the player a new contract.
When asked about Kante’s future Ranieri told the Leicester Mercury: “I don’t know. I know one thing, we have offered a new deal of a contract to him.
“He wanted to wait because he wanted to finish Euro 2016. Now I hear there is so much speculation behind him.
“I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want to, but I could understand if he wants to go.
“At this point, I hope the team bring the maximum. I don’t know about the money, I am not a manager, just a coach, so I don’t speak about money. I say what I feel, I want him here.”
Kante joined Leicester from Caen only last summer for just £5.65million and signed a four-year deal, but his brilliant debut season led to the club offering him a lucrative new deal in an effort to convince him to snub offers from elsewhere.
Conte has been looking to strengthen his midfield, with doubts persisting over the future of Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel.
According to The Telegraph, Kante will sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
