N’Golo Kante, the French international currently playing in Saudi Arabia, is reportedly on the verge of making a surprising return to European football with a move to Barcelona.

Under the guidance of their new manager, Hansi Flick, who replaced Xavi at the end of the season, Barcelona is actively pursuing several high-profile targets this summer. Flick’s objective is to reinforce the squad as the Catalan club aims to compete fiercely across all competitions.

Barcelona’s search for a new midfield anchor to replace Sergio Busquets has led them to consider various options. Despite Oriol Romeu’s efforts, he has not met the club’s expectations, prompting Barcelona to explore other potential signings.

The club has looked at top names like Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

However, acquiring these players has proven to be quite challenging. This situation has pushed Barcelona to explore alternative options, with Kante emerging as a viable candidate.

Kante, who joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea last summer in a high-profile transfer, has demonstrated through his performances at Euro 2024 that he still possesses significant quality and influence on the field.

At 33 years old, Kante is reportedly open to a return to European football, making him an appealing option for Barcelona as they aim to bolster their midfield and mount a strong challenge on multiple fronts.