Manchester United are reportedly considering pulling out of the race to sign Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, with Arsenal's previous transfer of Willian weighing heavy on their minds.
Kante will have just one year remaining on his contract come the summer and under the fresh guidance of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils were reportedly considering a move for the French international. United are in need of improvements in midfield ahead of their new campaign and Kante has been one of the standouts over the past six years.
He is well-loved at Stamford Bridge too, having played key roles in Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League triumphs. Towards the end of last season, Thomas Tuchel spoke of Kante's importance to the side.
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"I think he is our key, key, key player, but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch," he told a post-match press conference after beating Leeds. "He plays only 40% of the games then it is maybe a miracle that we arrive in third place. He is our Mo Salah, he is our Van Dijk, he is our De Bruyne. He is simply that player, he is our Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
"He is that guy who makes the difference, and if you only have him for 40%, then it is a huge problem."
But despite such glowing praise and near-universal acclaim, United are wary of making a move for Kante because of his age, according to reports. Now 31, United are distancing themselves from the transfer according to The Telegraph, via Metro, as they look to change their approach to deals, turning to more young and hungry talents.
Arsenal's decision to sign Willian on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2020 is being used as a reason why they should not pursue a deal for Kante. The 33-year-old was signed as one of the club's highest earners but went on to play just 16 Premier League games the following term, scoring just one goal.
