Juventus have been linked with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, but their recent history with free agents has not exactly been reassuring.
Kante was instrumental in Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City side that won the Premier League and was signed by Chelsea for €36m in 2016.
However, his contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire in June 2023 and he has been told he will miss the 2022 World Cup with France due to a thigh injury.
The Bianconeri are already named as a potential destination for Kante, who will turn 32 in March, but recent history may well be off-putting for Max Allegri and President Andrea Agnelli.
While Paul Pogba was a huge success as a free agent from Manchester United when still young in 2012, sold on at a ridiculous €105m profit four years later, his return has been dominated by injury and controversy.
Free agents have proved to be profitable and helpful to the squad when they are young and can be resold, but the problem seems to be with players who are already at a certain age and demand huge salaries to make up for the lack of a transfer fee, such as Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey.
Angel Di Maria is the latest such figure who will not be sold on and warrants a large wage, yet is dealing with injuries consistent with age and distracted by the World Cup.
If Juventus are trying to bring down the average age of the squad and save money by bringing talents through the youth academy, as they stated only a couple of weeks ago, then Kante does not fit with that idea.
WC, CL, PL. Why risk the chance of Swamp Max Legend of Hexagon Master of Bush League Calcio.
Why?
Kante doesn’t fit Allegris formation. Kante can only play as a number 6 in front of the defence, cleaning up.