Al Ittihad are fighting to retain N'Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia amid a possible return to the Premier League with West Ham interested
Al Ittihad do not want to sell N'Golo Kanté to West Ham this summer, talkSPORT understands.
The Hammers are interested in bringing the Chelsea Icon returns to the Premier League with Julen Lopetegui A big fan.
There was reported to be £20m up for grabs for the French international, who was one of the few Les Bleus players to impress in Euro 2024.
But Al Ittihad is not interested in seeing the 33 years go, who put his injury problems behind him to play in all but four Saudi Pro League games last season.
However, they will have to fight to retain the defensive midfielder, who is not against returning to London this summer.
The Hammers are desperate to strengthen their midfield after… Kalvin Phillips' a disappointing loan period Manchester City.
With the Englishman returning to the Etihad and without a permanent deal in east London, Lopetegui wants to sign Kanté, who has been on his radar for some time.
When the Spaniard was briefly in charge of real Madrid In 2018, he tried to sign the midfielder when he was at Chelsea.
After leaving Stamford Bridge last year on a free transfer, his fitness problems were thought to haunt him after managing just seven Premier League appearances in the 22/23 campaign.
But Kanté is back to his best with Al Ittihad and France and his experience could prove vital for West Ham.
3
3
In total, Kanté spent eight years in England: seven with Chelsea and one with Leicester.
He helped the Foxes to a shock Premier League title in his debut campaign in 2016 before doing the same a year later with the Blues.
The Frenchman would also win the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea, as well as being named PFA Player of the Year in 2017.
West Ham have already been busy in the transfer window this summer with three new arrivals in Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham.
talkSPORT understands They are also interested in signing Manchester United Star Aaron Wan-Bissaka as well as Arsenal's Reiss Nelsonwhile Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is also of interest.
