Chelsea could soon be set to make a major decision on the future of midfielder N'Golo Kante.
The Frenchman is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in 2023 and despite still being one of the most lauded defensive midfielders in world football, he is currently on the wrong side of 30.
By the time his contract expires, the former Leicester man will be 32 and will be unlikely to garner the lofty amounts that Chelsea would currently demand for his signature.
As it stands, there are plenty of clubs around Europe who would be prepared to make a move for Kante - the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain having been strongly linked in the past.
It of course remains to be seen whether that interest turns into a tangible attempt to seal his signature but Chelsea might well have been handed a boost in their efforts to keep him at Stamford Bridge by Real Madrid.
According to a report from Fichajes, the Spanish giants are interested in Leicester City destroyer Wilfried Ndidi and could potentially make a move for the Nigerian in the January transfer window.
Should they secure a deal for the former Genk man, it would therefore seem somewhat unlikely that Los Blancos would make an attempt to sign Kante - who is valued at £49.5m by transfermarkt.
Of course, former Chelsea coach Brendan Rodgers would not be too keen on letting Ndidi leave the King Power Stadium any time soon.
Since arriving in 2017 - ironically as a replacement for Kante - the 24-year-old has established himself as a key player in the east Midlands. He has made 187 outings for the club and lifted the FA Cup against the Blues at the back end of last season.
Rodgers has recently waxed lyrical about the midfielder’s abilities amid his return from a troublesome injury.
He said: "He’s very, very important for us, from a defensive perspective. He covers a lot of space.
"In those defensive moments, you need that player to get back in. He’s a very, very important player for us and it’s great to have him back.”
