West Ham United have reportedly made a fresh approach to sign veteran midfielder and Chelsea legend N'Golo Kante during the January transfer window, as manager Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to bolster his squad's experience for a relegation battle.
Hammers Target Premier League Proven Quality
The East London club are said to have made another enquiry for the Al-Ittihad star within the last 48 hours, according to transfer specialist Ben Jacobs. Kante, 34, is out of contract in Saudi Arabia at the end of the current season, prompting significant speculation about his future.
The French international boasts a formidable CV in English football, having made 227 Premier League appearances. He famously won the title with both Leicester City in 2016 and Chelsea in 2017, alongside a Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, and Club World Cup triumph during a glittering seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
Fenerbahce Lead Race Despite London Interest
Despite West Ham's confirmed interest, the pursuit faces a significant hurdle. Reports indicate that Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce are currently the frontrunners to secure Kante's signature.
"Kante wants the move," Jacobs stated. "Fenerbahce are the frontrunners, even though I'm told West Ham also made another enquiry in the last 48 hours, but Fenerbahce are leading the race. They're confident that they've got the buy-in from the player, but they've still got some work to do with Al Ittihad."
Nuno has already addressed his attacking options this month with the signings of Taty Castellanos and Pablo. The focus had shifted to recruiting a new centre-back, with Eric Dier, Willy Boly, and Jamaal Lascelles all linked. However, the desire for a seasoned midfielder remains a priority, with Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa seen as lacking the experience needed for a tough fight against the drop.
History Repeats as Bilic's Near-Miss Recalled
This is not the first time West Ham have attempted to bring Kante to the club. Former manager Slaven Bilic came close to signing the midfielder from Caen in 2015, before he ultimately joined Leicester and took the league by storm.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Bilic later said, "Yes, we were quite close. I watched him in France. He was a good player, the same player he is now... He's one of those players that you think after 20 minutes that there are twins, that there are two of them, because of the energy, the cleverness he plays with."
Bilic explained the deal fell through because the club had signed other players for the same position, making a move for Kante impractical at the time. Interestingly, Bilic himself has been in the news lately as a potential emergency replacement for Nuno should the club decide on a change in management.
As the January window progresses, West Ham's attempt to finally land a player they admired nearly a decade ago adds a compelling layer to their ongoing recruitment drive. Securing a player of Kante's pedigree and proven Premier League mentality could provide a crucial boost in their quest for survival.
