West Ham United are in a fight for survival.
Sure, the Hammers did pick up an impressive win against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, but they'll need to pick up even more to keep their place in the Premier League.
It's going to be something of a slog, and Nuno Espírito Santo is going to need real fighters in his team, players who could be held up against former captain Declan Rice.
Declan Rice for West Ham
Fortunately, it looks like West Ham are doing their best to sign an incredible midfielder who could potentially be seen as the club's next version of the Englishman.
West Ham target their next Rice
It might prove too little too late come May, but West Ham are clearly trying their best to improve the squad this month and give themselves the best chance of survival.
Up top, the Hammers have added two new strikers to the squad in former Lazio ace Taty Castellanos and former Gil Vicente star Pablo Felipe.
However, while adding more goals to the team will certainly help things, most fans will point out that an inability to control games and stop opposition teams from scoring is the bigger problem.
Declan Rice in action for West Ham.
Fortunately, it lookslike the club are trying to address this problem as well with someone who could be seen as Nuno's own Rice.
At least that is according to a recent report from Turkey, which claims West Ham are interested in N'Golo Kanté.
In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that, alongside some other teams, the Hammers have already made contact and told the Al-Ittihad player that the fee required to sign him will not be a problem.
However, the one thing that could be an issue is that he has already said yes to a proposal from Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe, but they won't pay the fee the Saudi Pro-League side want.
ngolo-kante-france
It could therefore be a complicated and relatively costly transfer to get over the line, but given Kanté's immense experience and quality, it's one West Ham should be all over, especially as he could be their new Rice.
Why Kanté could be West Ham's new Rice
Now, the first thing to say here is that yes, there are obviously differences between Rice and Kanté, and that the Frenchman isn't quite the player he once was.
France midfielder N'Golo Kante
However, the role he could play in this West Ham team could be similar to the one the former captain played before he left.
Moreover, a Kante who isn't quite as good as he once was is still an extraordinary player. On his day, he is "unbelievable" in the words of his former manager Claudio Ranieri.
With that said, what could the former Chelsea man bring to the team?
Well, firstly, he would bring an immense amount of experience, know-how, and sheer quality to the middle of the park.
France's NGolo Kante in action with Ukraine's Yehor Nazaryna
As the Englishman did years ago, he could help control the game from the base of midfield, snuffing out danger when it pops up and helping to kickstart attacks when the opportunity arises.
In fact, it was former West Ham star Michail Antonio who, in 2019, claimed that the way in which his former teammate "breaks everything up" in the middle of the park "reminds me of N'Golo Kanté."
Moreover, for those who say he can't do it anymore, you only have to look back at the European Championships, not even two years ago.
In that competition, the 34-year-old started every game for France right up until they were beaten by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Next, there is the mental side of things.
The former Blues star is a mentality monster, a born winner and someone who would fight tooth and nail to keep the Hammers in the top-flight, much like their former captain did.
Kanté's Senior Career
Team
Chelsea
Al-Ittihad
SM Caen
France
US Boulogne
Leicester
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Finally, and this links with the mentality side of things, the Paris-born superstar has an incredible amount of experience, from winning the league with Leicester City and Chelsea, to lifting the World Cup with France and even winning things in Saudi Arabia.
In other words, this know-how, along with the fact that he's been in far more stressful situations before, could help him control games with relative ease in Nuno's midfield.
kante-leicester
Ultimately, while it would be a surprising move, West Ham should do all they can to sign Kanté this month, as he could prove crucial in their fight to survive, and even become Nuno's own Rice.
Bowen Related
Bowen's dream transfer: West Ham open talks to sign £17m English talent
The highly-rated West Ham United target could be a dream teammate for Jarrod Bowen.