Arsene Wenger claims he could have 'easily' signed Chelsea star during Arsenal reign

Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante (C) lifts the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at the Dragao stadium in Porto on May 29, 2021. (Photo by DAVID RAMOS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he could have “easily” signed Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

During a Q&A with Ian Wright for Sport Bible, the ex-Gunners striker asked Wenger which player he regretted not signing for the club.

Wenger went on to claim the opportunity to sign the France international was put on a plate for him in 2010 when Kante was playing for JS Suresnes.

Evian's French midfielder Adrien Thomasson (L) vies for the ball with Caen's French midfielder N'golo Kante (R) during the French L1 football match between Caen (SM Caen) and Evian (ETG), on May 23, 2015, at the Michel d'Ornano stadium, in Caen, northwestern France. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

The nineth division club were struggling to find Kante a new team at the time and while Wenger was made of aware of the situation, a move never materialised.

Speaking to Sport Bible, Wenger said: “He [Kante] played for a club in Paris that's called Suresnes where one of my best friends is director and he told me 'Please, I have a player we know that is unbelievable. Nobody wants him in France'.

"He took him in his car and travelled with him from club to club. And finally, a club from division three in France (Boulogne) took N'Golo Kante.

"It's an unbelievable story. You could make a film about him as well."

Ngolo Kante of Leicester City is watched by Lee Cattermole of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Leicester City at the Stadium of Light on April 10, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The midfielder remained in France for five years with Boulogne and Caen before joining Leicester City in 2015.

His spectacular form for the Foxes, which helped them to their first Premier League title, earned him a £32 million move to Chelsea and he has since won another league title, three FA Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and also the World Cup with France.

Wenger went onto heap praise on the 30-year-old and told Wright: "He is somebody you don't find often.

"He wins the ball without making a foul and straight away, he moves that ball forward.”

Wenger has been promoting his new documentary – ’Arsene Wenger: Invincible’ – which is released on Monday (22nd November).