Paris FC reveal disappointment after narrowly missing out on N’Golo Kanté | OneFootball

Paris FC owner Antoine Arnault has revealed how close the club came to pulling off the signing of France international N’Golo Kanté (34) during the summer transfer window. 

It had already been reported that Kanté was a target for newly-promoted and recently-moneyed Paris FC. The club, following their promotion from Ligue 2, didn’t go wild in the transfer market, but were keen to bring in experience, which they did in the form of Pierre Lees-Melou, Moses Simon, and Kevin Trapp, for example.

Kanté worth an extra five points – Arnault

But the signing of Kanté would have represented an enormous coup for Les Parisiens, and Arnault has now revealed that the club almost pulled it off. “There wasn’t a lot in it. It is a shame and sad that he didn’t come. I think he also wanted to come, but his club (Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad) didn’t let him leave,” Arnault revealed in an interview with L’Équipe.

Arnault seemed to suggest that Paris FC would not reignite their interest in Kanté, whose contract expires at the end of the season. However, he regrets that the Frenchman could not join the Ligue 1 club. “With N’Golo in this team, it would have brought about more of a dynamic and maybe another five points in the table, too,” he said.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle