Barcelona are close to reaching a pre-agreement with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, according to Spanish media outlet Sport.

Kante’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season and the Blues have offered the Frenchman a two-year contract and are unwilling to meet his demands of his three-year contract.

Kante has been a key cog in Chelsea’s midfield for years now, but various injury struggles have limited his appearances over the last 18 months. Kante has made just two appearances for the Blues this season.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez sees Kante as an ideal signing to replace Sergio Busquets. With Barcelona’s restrictive finances, a free transfer is said to make sense for a player who is among the finest midfielders on the planet when fully fit.

Kante is recovering from a hamstring operation, with a return expected sometime in February. It appears, though, that his days in a Chelsea shirt are numbered.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will reignite interest in signing Barcelona star and Netherlands international Memphis Depay in January, according to the Evening Standard.

Chelsea explored a deal for Depay in the summer before moving for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Depay has six months left on his Barcelona contract and is available in January after falling down the pecking order at the Spanish side.