What PSG’s Kante interest could mean for Pogba and Man Utd
Robin Bairner
- 26 Feb 2022 10:25 GMT
- 3 min read
Paris Saint-Germain are seeking a summer overhaul of their midfield, and the latest player linked with a move to them is Chelsea star N’Golo Kante.
Though the World Cup winner keeps his profile low, he is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, with his energetic style now the prototype for a certain brand of player.
Meanwhile, PSG continue to be linked with a deal for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, who becomes a free agent in the summer.
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Is it realistic that if they sign one, the other will follow?
In short, yes. In fact, if PSG’s interest in Pogba is genuine, it would make logical sense that they might at least try to sign Kante from Chelsea.
Pogba, after all, is a player who has shown himself at Man Utd to be capable of only functioning to his best in certain systems and with certain players.
Kante is a proven solution to the problem of who can play alongside him.
Together in the France national team, they have the remarkable record of having never lost a game in a regulation 90 minutes that they have started together. This is a stunning record given that the pair have been an automatic pick together for Didier Deschamps following Euro 2016.
Can PSG sign both Kante and Pogba?
Of course, both deals are still far from concluded and a transfer for Kante would appear to be especially problematic.
Chelsea will not want to let one of their leading players depart, and the grounded nature of the former Caen and Leicester star means that he will neither push for a move nor be concerned if he is missing out on big money at PSG.
He may wish, however, to move back to France to have the opportunity to play for his hometown club. This is the biggest draw PSG are likely to have for him at present.
Pogba is a more realistic target, however.
Another impediment is the sheer number of midfield players that PSG have. They were unable to shed any in January, and unless there are fresh suitors come the summer, they could have a hard time offloading players on big wages.
