West Ham’s attempt to sign N’Golo Kante has hit a roadblock, as their initial £20 million offer for the World Cup-winning midfielder was turned down by Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad. Kante, who recently returned to the French national team for the Euros, has expressed interest in a return to London. However, the Hammers will need to significantly increase their bid and match Kante’s substantial salary to secure his transfer.
Kante enjoyed living in London during his time at Chelsea and is open to moving back. Yet, he remains content at Al Ittihad, making West Ham’s task more challenging. To tempt the Saudi club into selling, West Ham might need to bolster their offer by an additional £10 million, making it a total of £30 million.
West Ham, under the guidance of new head coach Julen Lopetegui and transfer chief Tim Steidten, are actively seeking midfield reinforcements after a disappointing season. The club faced issues with their midfield last season, exacerbated by Kalvin Phillips’ unsuccessful loan spell and injuries to other key players. The Hammers have already made some signings, including teenage Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme and center back Max Kilman.
Financially, West Ham are in a strong position, having benefited from the £100 million sale of Declan Rice last summer. This has given them some flexibility under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations. Despite this, matching Kante’s current salary to make him their highest-paid player could be a significant hurdle.
West Ham’s transfer strategy is clear: strengthen the squad to push for European places next season. However, securing a high-profile player like Kante will require substantial financial commitment and negotiations.
