Leicester City Transfer News: N'Golo Kante's future in his own hands, says Claudio Ranieri
Leicester City manager and Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri revealed that midfielder N’Golo Kante’s future is “in his (Kante’s) hands”, as Leicester offered him a rumoured £100,000 a week. Kante was an integral part of the Premier League winning squad and also helped his country France reach the finals of the 2016 Euros.
According to reports, the Frenchman is heavily linked with a move to Chelsea or Real Madrid after impressing with Leicester last season. Chelsea have reportedly made a £27 million offer for the Frenchman and the Foxes are widely expected to accept Chelsea’s offer, giving him a chance to work under new coach Antonio Conte.
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Ranieri said: “We offered Kante a new deal before he went to the Euros. Now I know there are a lot of big teams interested. It's in his hands.” He added: “But if one of my players says to me I want to go there; I try to keep him.” He added: “I suggest to everybody this is a fantastic club, we won the title, we can do something good in a few years.
“If you go away you don't know what happens, here you are the king. It is much better to stay here one year more and look at what happens. Then maybe you can go anywhere."
He further added: "You maybe change a team and go in the big teams, maybe you don't start very well and stay outside the first XI, you slow down. It is important to choose very well for the lads because now for me as well the lads are my sons. If they come to me I say this, Be careful."
Kante was named in the PFA team of the season and was also named in the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, which was duly won by his teammate Riyad Mahrez. His brilliant performances for the foxes helped him secure a place in Didier Deschamp’s France that lost in the finals of the 2016 Euro.
Also Read: Reports: Real Madrid interested in signing Leicester City's N'Golo Kante
Ranieri had done the same thing when Leicester top scorer Jamie Vardy looked set to seal a move to Arsenal, but due to Ranieri’s pleas, he changed his mind and stayed back with Leicester. Ranieri insists that he is very happy that Vardy decided to stay with the club and are ready to defend their title.
He said that doing it again is not possible but Leicester proved last season that everything is possible. He further added that there is no pressure on his team as they are the champions. He said: “The new champions will have to fight against us and not just the new champions but everybody.”
He even said that his team is ready to fight. Leicester City begin their title defence when they take on Hull City on August 13.