Chelsea 'will talk again' with N'Golo Kante before any decision is made about him leaving the club, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Kante's future

With Kante's current Chelsea contract set to expire in June 2023, there have been reports linking him with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the near future.

Interest comes from Europe, with Spanish sources detailing that Barcelona were making progress on a deal earlier this month, with the Spanish club able to sign him on a pre-contract agreement in January.

There have also been claims that Tottenham manager Antonio Conte remained keen back in November, but there seems to have been no development on that front in more recent times.

The Latest: Phillips' update

According to Phillips, who was speaking to GIVEMESPORT, there is still a possibility that the Frenchman extends his stay at Stamford Bridge, with the player himself keen to remain at the club:

“Kante is happy to stay at Chelsea and he’s hoping he can find an agreement there still, but right now it’s not happening. But they will talk again, I think, before a final decision is made either way.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

A hamstring injury sustained back in August has meant that the midfielder has only managed to make two Premier League appearances so far this season, but he has previously proven time and time again that he is up there with the very best in the defensive role.

BBC Sport's Abbie McCarthy has lauded the 53-time France international as an 'unreal player', and for good reason, as he has displayed remarkable acumen in preventing opposition attacks throughout his time at Stamford Bridge.

Over the past year, the enforcer has averaged 2.94 tackles per 90 minutes, which places him in the 88th percentile compared to his peers, as does the figure of 1.65 interceptions over the same timeframe.

Given that he is now 31, Graham Potter may not want to tie Kante down on a long-term deal, but he deserves at least two more years at the club, given his previous success.