Paris Saint-Germain target close to signing new Chelsea deal

N’Golo Kante is close to signing a new long-term Chelsea deal worth £290,000-a-week, claims The London Evening Standard.

The France international’s existing £150,000-a-week contract is not due to expire until 2021 but Chelsea are determined to secure his long-term future.

Paris Saint-Germain are keen on prising Kante back to the French capital but Chelsea are confident they have fended off interest from the Ligue 1 champions.

Kante has emerged as one of the best midfielders in Europe over the last three seasons and Chelsea are willing to make Kante one of the best-paid players in the Premier League.

Despite excelling as a defensive midfielder during his first three campaigns in England, Maurizio Sarri has changed Kante’s role for Chelsea this season.

The arrival of Jorginho has pushed Kante from his central berth to one of the wide central midfielders in Chelsea’s midfield three and now the 27-year-old has transformed into a box-to-box runner.

The 2018 World Cup winner has gone from averaging 3.3 tackles per league game last season to just 1.8 this time around and 2.5 interceptions per league game to 0.8.

Despite not being asked to carry out his defensive duties to the same degree this season, Kante has still completed the most tackles and interceptions combined (770) in the Premier League since August 2015.