Real Madrid see Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante as Casemiro alternative

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has drawn up a shortlist of three players to supplement the role of Casemiro at the club.

The report made the front page of Diario AS on Monday with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante one of three players on the shortlist alongside Rennes teenage midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Boubakary Soumare of Lille.

Casemiro has played 3,120 minutes across 35 matches (of a possible 39) for Los Blancos this campaign – more than any other player at the club.

The Brazilian started in 21 successive matches between September and December, with the summer exit of Marcos Llorente to Atletico de Madrid meaning there was no natural back-up in the squad.

Fede Valverde has been tried in the position but is more comfortable in a role with more dynamism, while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are also ill-suited to a holding midfield role.

Camavinga, 17, has caught the eye with his performances in Ligue 1 and he has been involved in all 25 – starting 24 – league matches for his club to date this campaign, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among the clubs also linked.

The teenager has featured in 36 matches for Rennes this campaign and he is said to have displayed the qualities to play a similar role for Madrid in the seasons to come.

Camavinga became the youngest ever professional for the club when he made his senior debut on 14 December 2018 at the age of 16 and one month.

He has been a part of Rennes’ system since the age of 11 and is regarded to be one of the brightest prospects in French football.

Born in Cabinda, Angola, Camavinga holds Congolese citizenship through his parents. He has lived in France since his second birthday and is said to be currently in the process of acquiring French citizenship.

His fellow Frenchmen Soumare and Kante are also being monitored by Madrid, the report adds.

Tags Casemiro Chelsea N'Golo Kante
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