Chelsea make £27m offer for Leicester City midfielder N'Golo Kante

Chelsea have made a £27m ($36m) bid for Leicester City midfielder N'Golo Kante, a premium on his current release clause of £20m. The Blues are willing to sell Nemanja Matic to Juventus in a bid to make room for the Frenchman who has had an overwhelming season with the Foxes, which saw them lift the Premier League title last season.

The Guardian reports that Leicester have offered him a five-year contract with improved terms in a bid to hold on to the player, but Kante is yet to make a decision on his future. Leicester are likely to reject a bid for the midfielder, but the deal could depend on how much Chelsea are willing to splurge for the player. Any push from the midfielder to make his way out of the club would also play a decisive role in completing the transfer.

Leicester have managed to hold on to all their players from their title winning campaign thus far, with Jamie Vardy setting a precedent by rejecting a move to Arsenal in the summer. The Gunners had matched his release clause earlier in the summer, but Vardy signed a new long-term contract with the Foxes to end any speculation over his future.

Kante had a successful Euro 2016 campaign with the French, where he was a regular before his suspension, following which he was replaced in the playing XI by Blaise Matuidi. Antonio Conte is reportedly a huge fan of the midfielder and is willing to leave no stone unturned in bringing him to Stamford Bridge and begin his Premier League campaign with the Blues. The former Italian manager has already signed Michy Matshuayi from Marseille in a bid to strengthen his attack.

Meanwhile, Matic's future at Chelsea is in doldrums after Juventus made an enquiry for him, but has been told that he cannot make his way out without the Blues signing a midfielder. Matic was also linked with a move to Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho reportedly interested in reuniting with the player.