Chelsea's contract talks with midfielder N'Golo Kante now 'look positive', according to reliable reporter Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Kante's future at Chelsea

The 31-year-old's future with the Blues has been in doubt in recent months, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

At one point, the midfielder was said to be in advanced negotiations with Barcelona. However, a move did not transpire, with Phillips later reporting that the player himself was 'hoping to find an agreement' to remain at Stamford Bridge.

The Latest: Progress made

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Phillips has now given a promising update regarding the discussions which have been held.

The journalist stated: "Kante’s contract talks definitely look positive. To start with in the summer, it was very far away. But it looks like from what I'm hearing that Kante’s people have been more prepared to meet Chelsea's demands.

“There's no agreement yet. But it has got a lot closer in the last two or three weeks.”

The Verdict: Good news?

Graham Potter strengthened his squad considerably in the January transfer window, bringing in Enzo Fernandez on deadline day in a British-record £106.8m deal, so questions may be asked about whether they need to extend Kante's contract.

The French midfielder has only made two appearances in the Premier League this season, owing to a hamstring injury which has cause him to miss 31 games since then, but the former Leicester City tank could play a huge part in the rest of the campaign once he is back to full fitness.

Hailed as an 'unreal player' by presenter Abbie McCarthy, Kante excels in so many different areas of the game. His dribbling ability is showcased by him ranking in the 98th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, also placing in the 85th percentile for tackles and the 86th for interceptions compared to other midfielders in Europe's top five leagues.

As such, it is encouraging to heare that talks between Chelsea and Kante are progressing, as he still has so much to offer at Stamford Bridge.