Footie Central | Football Blog Blogging the football world
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté looks like he will be the next high profile player choosing to play his football in Saudi Arabia next season.
The French international is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of this month, and, although there have been talks over an extension, nothing has materialised.
Instead, it looks increasingly likely that he will be joining compatriot Karim Benzema at newly crowned Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, with suggestions that he may already have completed a medical with them.
The 32 year old who struggled with injuries last season, making just nine appearances in all competitions, is set to sign a two year deal worth £86 million.
That includes payment for image rights, an investment portfolio, and various commercial deals.
His package is less than half than that which has been given to Benzema, but is far more than he could have hoped to earn at his age from any European club.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.