Steve Nicol has tipped Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to sign Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante in the summer, despite his injury-hit season, as he told ESPN.
The Liverpool legend stated that Kante, who has only played two Premier League games this season because of injury, is someone worth signing, regardless of his current situation because he has ‘the whole package’.
Whilst Kante returns from his hamstring issues, Chelsea’s owner Todd Boehly has gone transfer-mad in the market, including the British club-record deal of Argentia World Cup star Enzo Fernandez on deadline day.
That’s one player Kante will be playing behind once he returns from the treatment room and probably a host of others in this talent-packed Graham Potter side.
Given that the 2018 France World Cup winner is out-of-contract in the summer, and will turn 32 in March, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if there’s no extension on his current deal and he does leave for nothing.
If and when that happens, Nicol has backed the player to represent the very big boys of Europe, including his very own Liverpool side, as he explained why.
“Highest bidder,” said Nicol. “The highest bidder gets him. Yes, he has had some injury problems.
“If I am a coach of the best team on the planet, and he’s available, then I want to sign him. There are certain things that you take a chance on in football, and this is one of them.
“You know exactly what you are getting when he is fit. You know you are getting a player, a gentleman and an experienced winner. He’s the whole package. The nicest guy in the world. Fantastic in the dressing room. You are getting everything.
“The question is, the fitness side of it, but it’s worth a gamble. If I am Madrid, Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern, or any of the so-called big guys. If this guy is on a free, then I am signing him.”
KANTE A PREMIER LEAGUE LEGEND
After winning the Premier League title at Leicester City during one of the remarkable seasons in English football, the £30 million signing (Guardian), then took his talents to Chelsea and added another title to his name.
But it didn’t stop there because, the two biggest trophies a footballer can win in his career – the European Cup and the World Cup – were already ticked off by Kante by the time he could hit 30, not forgetting his Man of the Match displays in the semi-finals and finals of the Champions League.
When the all-action midfielder hangs up his boots, he will go down as a legend, but there is still plenty of life left in his tank and he would be an outstanding purchase for many elite teams in the summer, especially for nothing.
Liverpool’s midfield needs revamping, so would they push for a player like Kante, or would his age and recent injury record be off-putting?!
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