Barcelona consider N’Golo Kanté as alternative to Adrien Rabiot

Barcelona do not want any loose ends

Éric Abidal has intensified his search for a successor to Sergio Busquets. He has negotiated with Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong and Paris Saint-Germain defensive midfielder Adrien Rabiot over the move, with the latter being the likelier signing.

But regardless of the fact that club has leverage over PSG due to the fact that Rabiot’s contract expires next summer, the two clubs share bitter relations due to the Neymar transfer last summer and the deal may not work out.

In case of that, the management is preparing a bid for an alternative, N’Golo Kanté. The 27-year old workhorse has been one of France’s key performers at the World Cup, and would be an excellent signing to reinforce the midfield.

The club plans to offer André Gomes as part of the deal in order to reduce Chelsea’s demand. The London club values the Frenchman highly, and their Russian owner Roman Abramovich has a reputation for being a hard negotiator, especially for crucial players.

Kanté does not fully suit Barça’s style of play, but he could add a new dimension to the club. But there are two factors weighing down this deal. One is the fact that André Gomes is not a player sought after by top European clubs, and the other is the fact that Kanté is 27.

Currently, Busquets is 30 years old. By the time he begins to decline, Kanté would be in the latter stages of his prime. And therefore, he would not be an actual successor to the club legend. The club should focus on signing Adrien Rabiot, who would be a cheaper and better option than Kanté.