Real Madrid join Manchester United and Chelsea in chase for Leicester star N’Golo Kante

REAL MADRID have made N’Golo Kante their prime summer transfer target.

The Foxes ace, 25, emerged as one of the finest talent’s in the Premier League when he helped power Leicester to the title last term.

And according to AS, the French star has been identified by boss Zinedine Zidane as the ideal defensive midfielder to fit into his Bernabeu system.

Kante has secured a starting berth in Didier Deschamps French side and looks comfortable on the world stage.

His pivotal role in the Leicester title-winning team has won him plenty of admirers – including Manchester United and Chelsea – whose hopes of signing Kante increased when it was revealed he has a £20m release clause.

And after Arsenal activated Jamie Vardy’s release clause, Leicester could be resigned to their side being dismantled over the summer.

It was revealed by SunSport that Real Madrid turned down the Frenchman last summer – because kingpin Florentino Perez didn’t believe he was a ‘true class footballer’.

But with Casemiro being Madrid’s only recognised central midfielder, Zidane is looking for a ‘Makalele-type’ player in his engine room.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri naturally wants to keep his star man – but admitted after the Foxes title triumph that the big-spenders could tempt Kante away.

He said: "If big teams arrive that will give us a lot of money, maybe we can think about it if he's not happy here and wants to go.

"I don't want sad people here - I want my players to be happy."