FootyDream

N’Golo Kante, the esteemed midfielder, has ventured into football club ownership by acquiring Belgian third-tier team Royal Excelsior Virton.

After bidding farewell to Chelsea, his club of seven years, earlier this month, Kante made a move to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.

Reports suggest that the deal he accepted with Al-Ittihad is worth approximately ten times more than the contract offered to him by his former Premier League club.

On Thursday morning, it was revealed that the 32-year-old footballer has invested a portion of his future earnings into becoming a club owner.

Kante, along with his associates, has reached an agreement to take control of Royal Excelsior Virton, a team that recently suffered relegation to the Belgian football third tier.

Royal Excelsior Virton finished in 12th place and at the bottom of the Challenger Pro League, missing out on survival by a mere point. Kante will now spearhead the rebuilding process at Stade Yvan Georges.

The Frenchman assumes ownership from Flavio Becca, and the club has confirmed in an official statement that all debts have been cleared by the departing owner.

Mason Mount will join Manchester United on a five-year contract, with the option of a further year, after Chelsea finally accepted a deal worth up to £60million for the midfielder.

And Mount will pocket at least £78m in wages if he stays at Old Trafford for the full term of his deal, as he will be paid £250,000-a-week, plus bonuses that could earn him up to £300,000-a-week.

Having rejected three bids from United for Mount, Chelsea finally agreed a deal that will see them receive a £55 million fixed fee, with the potential of £5 million in add-ons which are strongly dependent on appearances and success. United believe £60 million would still represent superb value for money for Mount, who had one year remaining on his Chelsea contract, because of the success required to pay the add-ons.

The two clubs finally found an agreement following further talks after United’s third bid of £50 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, had been rejected last Friday night. Chelsea had originally valued Mount at £70 million, but ideally wanted the situation resolved before head coach Mauricio Pochettino officially starts work next Monday, with the players due to start returning for pre-season training from Tuesday.

Mount will now undergo a medical and sign his United contract that will run for five years, with the option of a further 12 months, which could take him to the age of 30.

The England international turned down the offer of a one-year extension to his Chelsea contract in February after talks over a longer-term deal to stay at Stamford Bridge had broken down.

Chelsea have sold Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz for combined fees that could reach £155 million and banked almost £40 million more with the departures of Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabia.

Chelsea will now step up their efforts to sign midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton, with confirmation of the signing of forward Nicolas Jackson expected shortly. Brighton value Caicedo at around £100 million, but Chelsea hope to set up a deal worth around £80 million with personal terms already thought to have been agreed.

Source: telegraph.co.uk