Liverpool plotting move for 'unbelievable' Chelsea midfielder

Liverpool have been linked with an audacious move for N'Golo Kante with the midfielder currently in the last six months of his current deal at Chelsea.

According to Catalan news outlet El Nacional, as cited by Anfield Watch's Twitter account, Jurgen Klopp has requested FSG to bring the French international to Anfield this summer as he looks to refresh Liverpool's engine room. The report also states that Kante has been viewed as a 'smart move' in the transfer market as they continue to pursue a deal for Jude Bellingham, who is expected to cost around €150m, according to Sky Sport reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Klopp has spoken highly of Kante in the past, with the Liverpool boss suggesting that the industrious midfielder could play for the 'next 20 years' at a press conference in 2019.

“It’s a really exciting team (Chelsea under Frank Lampard), it reminds me a little bit of my team at Borussia Dortmund a few years back when they were really young, even younger than this team now at Chelsea.

“And people always talked about how young they were, but they only played because they were that good, not because they were that young.

“Jorginho is not that young, but not been that long in the league. You have Kante who looks like he could play for the next 20 years. Maybe he’s only 18 physically, it’s unbelievable.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Kante is a world-class midfielder when fully fit, but his injury record in recent seasons is a massive red flag. He has featured just twice in all competitions for Chelsea this season and is currently out with a hamstring problem that has kept him on the sidelines since October.

Additionally, he's set to turn 32 in two months, indicating that he's running on his last legs as a top-flight footballer. Liverpool do need midfield reinforcements and Kante would take to Klopp's system like a fish to water, but we'd be better off targeting someone younger and with a cleaner bill of health than the diminutive Frenchman.