MANCHESTER UNITED are plotting a shock transfer swoop for N’Golo Kante, according to sensational reports.
The French midfielder’s future is still unclear with the Blues thought to be open to the idea of moving him on to raise funds.
Roman Abramovich has splashed out £230million this summer to bring in Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell.
And the sale of Kante would help reduce the deficit.
Now according to Tuttosport in Italy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to make an ambitious bid to land the star.
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United already have Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Fred at their disposal in midfield – plus summer-signing Donny van de Beek from Ajax.
Kante is under contract for another three years at Stamford Bridge after penning a new deal in November 2018.
The report alleges Chelsea would be willing to accept an offer of just £55m for the 29-year-old.
There was talk earlier in the summer that a move to Inter Milan could be on the cards.
Antonio Conte signed ‘the nicest man in football’ from Leicester in 2016 and would unsurprisingly be keen to reunite with the World Cup.
The problem for Inter – who are set to sign Arturo Vidal from Barcelona – is cash.
Tuttosport add the San Siro club would need to sell Milan Skriniar or Marcelo Brozovic to finance a deal.
Both players would cost between £36m and £46m, with Inter hoping to then convince Chelsea to lower their asking price.
Kante, though, is thought to be happy in West London and wants to fight for his place.
However, should Frank Lampard manage to secure former Blues youngster Declan Rice from West Ham, he may deem Kante surplus to requirements.
