Cape Town - N'Golo Kante has admitted that Arsenal were interested in signing him 12 months ago, before he opted to move to Chelsea instead.
The French international played a key role in Leicester City's unlikely Premier League triumph last season, and has continued his fine form for the Blues after completing a £32 million move from the Foxes.
Prior to Chelsea's away match against Bournemouth on Saturday, the 26-year-old confirmed that he opted against moving to the Gunners because their interest wasn't firm enough.
"With Arsenal there was an interest but not a big as other clubs," Kante told Sky Sports.
"That is why I didn't go to Arsenal and went to Chelsea."
Earlier this year, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that he is a long-time fan of Kante and that he tried to sign him on multiple occasions.
"When he was in France, when he was at Leicester," Wenger said in February this year when asked if he ever tried to sign Kante.
"I do not want to talk more about that. Transfers are transfers."