Chelsea star N'Golo Kante has now reportedly agreed to join one of the Blues' biggest Premier League rivals at the end of the season.
With Chelsea currently having a bloated squad, a mass exodus is expected to take place at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2023/24 campaign regardless of which manager is in charge.
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While the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount have frequently been linked with an exit in recent months, it now appears Kante could also be set for a shock departure when the season concludes.
According to Spanish outlet Todo Fichajes, the Frenchman has agreed to a proposed move to London rivals Arsenal.
The 32-year-old will be out of contract in June after spending seven years at the club. With talks over a new deal having been ongoing for a few months now, no official agreement has been reached between the player and Chelsea, who are said to have offered him a two-year extension.
Much like his former midfield partner Jorginho, Kante is said to have grabbed the attention of Mikel Arteta, with the Spanish manager believed to have requested that the Gunners hierarchy make the deal happen as he appreciates the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner's unique skill set.
One of Kante's representatives is also said to have told Le Parisien that Arsenal wanted the deep-lying playmaker back in January too, while interest in him reportedly dates back to when Arsene Wenger was still in charge.
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Kante has struggled with injuries in this campaign, registering only seven appearances across all competitions in 2022/23.
Having missed a staggering 34 games through injury, it is believed his fitness issues have played a part in contract talks with Chelsea stalling.
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