N’Golo Kante has sought to calm exit talk at Chelsea by refusing to enter into a discussion regarding supposed interest from Real Madrid. The 2018-19 campaign has been a testing one for the France international. Having helped his country to World Cup glory last summer in his favoured holding midfield role, his position at club level has been tweaked by Blues boss Maurizio Sarri. That tinkering is considered to have contributed to Chelsea slipping to sixth in the Premier League table and to the back of the pack chasing Champions League qualification. It has also sparked rumours regarding the respective futures of Sarri and a number of his players. Kante is among those to have generated transfer speculation, with the 27-year-old still considered to be one of the finest performers on the planet when played to his strengths. That ability is said to be drawing admiring glances from Spain, with Zinedine Zidane back in Madrid and expected to embark on an elaborate spending spree this summer. The French legend may be tempted to make a move for his countryman at Stamford Bridge, but Kante insists he is paying no intention to unwelcome gossip. He told RTL : “I am at Chelsea and I still have aims here, what is said elsewhere is not important.” Kante’s commitment to the Blues cause could be tested if a formal approach from the Santiago Bernabeu were to be made. The opportunity to work under Zidane may appeal to the midfielder, but he is reluctant to speculate on what the future might hold. Quizzed on what he would do if the Blancos boss were to contact him, Kante said: “That is not important. I am at Chelsea and I am focused on that.” Kante committed to a new five-year contract with Chelsea back in November, and that deal suggests that he will be going nowhere any time soon. The west Londoners are also about to be stung with a two-window transfer ban, with it being claimed that no sales will be sanctioned by the Blues until they are back in a position to be able to bolster their ranks .

Eden Hazard may remain in Real Madrid’s sights, but Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen has suggested that no sales will be sanctioned this summer as the Blues face a transfer ban. Those at Stamford Bridge have been stung with a two-window embargo by FIFA for alleged breaches of regulations regarding the acquisition of players under the age of 18. An appeal was planned in west London, but world football’s governing body has declared that there will be no freezing of the sanctions while that process is ongoing. That means Chelsea face the prospect of being unable to add to their ranks until the summer of 2020. A deal for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Christian Pulisic is already in place for the end of the season, but that may be the last agreement reached for 12 months. With that in mind, Christensen has claimed that no players will be allowed to leave any time soon. The Danish defender had been hoping to see the exit door remain open as he weighs up his options amid a lack of regular playing time. The 22-year-old is, however, being made aware that he will be forced to stay put, and the same approach could be taken with Hazard – who is only under contract for a little over a year. Christensen has told Ekstra Bladet: “The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept. “The messages we have received are that Chelsea cannot appeal the case and therefore want to keep all the players. “I have tried to show myself on the training track, but it is difficult because it is limited how much we train with all the matches the team is going to play. “Now I have played the matches in the Europa League and hope it will continue as long as we are in the tournament.” Christensen has made 19 appearances for Chelsea this season, but only three of those have come in the Premier League. A move elsewhere has been mooted, with the Dane admitting to having considered a new challenge elsewhere. Hazard has also been hinting at a fresh start away from Stamford Bridge, with talk of a move to Madrid never far away, but the Belgian maintains that no deal has been done.

Jose Mourinho has said that he believes Zinedine Zidane is the right man for the Real Madrid managerial position.  Zidane was re-appointed as Madrid's head coach earlier this month, just 10 months after he had resigned from the same position.  The Frenchman replaced Santiago Solari, who himself had replaced Julen Lopetegui earlier in the 2018-19 campaign.  After Solari's dismissal, many tipped Mourinho to return to the Santiago Bernabeu after he had been sacked as Manchester United boss in December.  Mourinho was Madrid's manager from 2010 to 2013, but the Blancos instead opted to bring back three-time Champions League winner Zidane.  And Mourinho himself has now said that the Blancos made the right call, adding that the Frenchman is just getting started in his managerial career despite what he has already achieved.  "I do not think we can talk about a career for him yet," Mourinho said of Zidane on Canal Plus.  "But in a very short time, he did what no one had done before, that is winning three consecutive Champions Leagues". "Now he is starting a new step in his career. He has to build a team, he has to make choices, buy players, sell them. He has to train them, give them his philosophy of play. "I think he's probably the best person for this club." Mourinho has not been shy about his desire to return to club management, and said this week he has already turned down a number of job offers.  The Portuguese said that he's growing more eager to return every day.  "Day after day, I miss training. I'm not going to hide it," Mourinho said.  "There's something going on in my head, winning a fifth league and a new Champions League with a third club."  

Gareth Bale would be welcomed back to Tottenham should he choose to call time on his spell at Real Madrid, according to Spurs defender Ben Davies. Speculation over Bale's future at Santiago Bernabeu has been rife during a season in which Madrid have struggled to cope following the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Bale dazzled at Tottenham before moving to Spain, and his Wales team-mate Davies said he would relish the chance to play alongside his country's leading scorer on a more regular basis. "He's come under a bit of flak at Madrid recently, but for Wales he's always been brilliant," Davies told reporters ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia. "I'm always going to say it's unfair, he is one of the best players in the world, we see it every day in training. "I'd definitely have him at Tottenham. But I don't know how likely that is." Wales beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 in a friendly ahead of their clash with Slovakia, with Bale sitting that game out. He is, however, his country’s all-time leading goalscorer – with 31 efforts recorded in 74 appearances – and has been hailed for always giving his all for the good of the collective cause. Davies added: “He’s always the player that wants to be there and put his heart on the line for the team and I’m sure he’ll do it again. “We’ll see how he does on Sunday, but I’m sure he’ll put a top performance in.” While quick to talk up the obvious qualities of Bale, the Madrid superstar is not the only player to have impressed Davies during the international break.  Ryan Giggs named David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn and Daniel James in his squad, with their potential leaving Davies optimistic about Wales' long-term future.  "If you look at the options we've got now, we definitely have a lot more up there," said the defender.  "In the past, we only had Gareth with that pace, but we're lucky to be blessed with it now.  "It's a good position to be in as a squad, the younger players will want to show what they can do when they get the chance of a regular place – that's the competition you want." 

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro praised the La Liga giants for signing Brazil defender Eder Militao after "half of Europe wanted him" . Militao, 21, will make the move from Porto in July after Madrid paid a reported €50 million (£43m/$57m) for his services. Casemiro played alongside the defender in Brazil's friendly draw with Panama on Saturday, with the South American side held to a 1-1 draw by the Concacaf nation.   Lucas Paqueta scored to put the Brazilians in front, but Adolfo Machado 's strike saw Panama earn a shock draw as Brazil struggled without the likes of Neymar and Vinícius Junior in the team to spark the attack.   But Casemiro was still full of praise for Militao and claims the 21-year-old will be a welcome addition for the Spanish giants.   "I've got to congratulate Real Madrid for signing him because half of Europe wanted him," he said, via AS.  "Militao has earned the right to play at the best club in the world and he'll be very welcome next season."  Militao is in just his first campaign at Porto after making a switch from Sao Paulo in August last year.  He has already made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese giants, who will face Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals.  Militao is the first addition made during Zinedine Zidane’s second reign in the Spanish capital, with the Frenchman having moved quickly to land a top target upon returning to Real.  Brazil will continue their preparations for the Copa America this summer with a Tuesday friendly against the Czech Republic, who are coming off a 5-0 loss to England in Euro 202 qualifying.   For Militao, there is also still work to do for Porto, who are set to face off with Liverpool in a Champions League quarter-final tie and are tied atop their domestic league with Benfica.   But Casemiro is sure his Brazil team-mate will remain locked on his performances ahead of his move to Spain.   "He's with Porto, they're playing in several competitions and I'm sure he's focused on Porto,” he said.