Having previously plied his trade in the Premier League, Al Ittihad star N'Golo Kante could reportedly make a shock return.
The 33-year-old represented France at the 2024 UEFA European Championship, helping them reach the semi-finals where they were knocked out by Spain who would go on to win the tournament.
Read: Man Utd confirm another signing!
Following his displays in the continental competition, interest in the player seems to have risen with West Ham United said to be interested in acquiring the player's services.
According to The Guardian, the London-based club are in the market for a defensive midfielder after they decided not to sign Manchester City Kalvin Phillips as his loan spell at the club is thought to have been disappointing.
Get the latest soccer news and be ahead of the game. Follow our WhatsApp Channel via this link!
As such, it has been claimed that the Hammers have entered into talks with Al Ittihad – who signed the two-time EPL winner in July last year.
Both teams believed to be keen on getting the deal over the line.
However, it has been suggested that the English side would have to pay in the region of £20 million (R474 million) in order to facilitate the Frenchman's move to the London Stadium.
Newly-appointed Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui is said to be a huge admirer of Kante and is thought to have previously being interested in luring him to the Santiago Bernabeu during the manager's brief stint at Real Madrid in 2018.
The France international played for Leicester City and was part of the team that shocked the world by winning the EPL in the 2015/16 season.
The following season, he went on to join Chelsea and secured himself another EPL medal by winning a title with the Blues in his first year at the club.
Read: Mothiba's former boss set for huge 2026 WC job?
During his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge, Kante also won the UEFA Champions League, an FA Cup as well as the UEFA Europa League.