Barcelona plotting Chelsea transfer raid as Xavi gives green light

Graham Potter reviews Chelsea's win against Wolves

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Barcelona are plotting a move for Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante as he edges closer to the end of his contract at Stamford Bridge. Kante could move to the La Liga giants as part of a blockbuster double midfield raid, with Jorginho also reportedly in Xavi Hernandez’s transfer crosshairs.

Both Kante and Jorginho have been integral to Chelsea’s success in recent years, but their futures are currently up in the air. Their current deals expire at the end of the season, and Barcelona are understood to be eyeing them as their latest imports from Stamford Bridge.

The Evening Standard report Barca want to sign Kante and Jorginho on free transfers in July, with the duo able to negotiate pre-contract agreements from January. And according to El Chiringuito, the former is particularly a popular target among the Nou Camp board and Xavi.

The report claims they consider Kante to be the perfect experienced replacement for Sergio Busquets and believe he would complement the future of their midfield, Pedri and Gavi. Discussions are expected to start shortly over a potential switch next summer, with Xavi hoping to close a deal at the start of 2023.

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Injuries have blighted Kante’s glistening career in recent years, and he hasn’t started more than 25 Premier League games in a single campaign since 2018/19. The 31-year-old has made just two league appearances this term amid his latest spell on the sidelines, and he could look for a new challenge next year as Chelsea embark on a new era under Graham Potter.

Kante has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup throughout his seven-year stint in English football. So he could jump at the opportunity to join Xavi’s rebuild in Catalonia with potentially the final bumper-size contract of his career.

Potter’s stance on Kante or Jorginho’s futures remains unclear. However, the Blues attempted to freshen up Thomas Tuchel’s midfield with Frenkie de Jong in the summer and will likely try again with the Dutchman or another Potter-influenced option next year.

With Conor Gallagher settling into life in west London after a prosperous loan spell at Crystal Palace, he poses as a long-term successor to either star. But it goes without saying that Kante’s quality will take a special signing to replace, should Barca succeed in their planned pursuit.

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