Chelsea ‘could be the first club to bid for £50m-rated Christopher Nkunku this summer’

Chelsea ‘could be the first club to bid for £50m-rated Christopher Nkunku this summer after months of interest’… but Man United ‘are not far away’, as the RB Leipzig star considers a move

  • Christopher Nkunku is one of the most sought after players in Europe
  • He registered 20 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga across this season
  • The German club are said to hold no intentions of selling Nkunku this summer 

Chelsea could be set to become the first club to bid for the highly rated Frenchman Christopher Nkunku. 

Nkunku, 24, is thought to be one of the most sought-after players on the planet this summer as Europe’s giants will look to test the resolve of RB Leipzig. 

According to French publication L’Equipe, Chelsea could be the first club to bid for the forward, with the west London outfit having been reported long-term admirers of the player. 

Christopher Nkunku is likely to be one of the most sought-after players in Europe this summer

Todd Boehly (pictured) will reportedly provide Thomas Tuchel with significant funds to rebuild

Todd Boehly (pictured) will reportedly provide Thomas Tuchel with significant funds to rebuild

Chelsea’s new owner, Todd Boehly, will reportedly provide Thomas Tuchel with a significant amount of money to rebuild his squad this summer. The club are believed to want to reinforce their forward options following Romelu Lukaku’s much-publicised troubles this season. 

Nkunku would represent a coup for the club, with the player having registered 20 goals and 15 assists in the league for RB Leipzig this season. His involvement in the creative aspect of the game chimes with how Tuchel expects his forwards to play. 

Chelsea, however, are unlikely to have a free run at the player. 

Manchester United, L’Equipe also suggest, are interested in the player. Interestingly, Newcastle, spurred on by their Saudi Public Investment Fund backers, are said to also be keen on the forward, although it is reported that they would currently not be Nkunku’s first choice destination. 

Nkunku has impressed for RB Leipzig this season, creating and scoring throughout

Nkunku has impressed for RB Leipzig this season, creating and scoring throughout

Despite this, RB Leipzig are said to have no intention of selling their prized asset this summer and, with two years left on his current deal, it would seemingly take a sizeable offer to get him out of the German club. 

The Frenchman’s impressive season was capped off earlier this month by a crucial equaliser in the DFB Pokal final against Freiburg. The game eventually went to penalties after a 1-1 draw, with RB Leipzig prevailing 4-2. 

Nkunku, who has been subject to interest from Europe’s top clubs for a long while, including a potential move back to his boyhood club Paris Saint Germain, told reporters ahead of France’s Nations League clash that the speculation surrounding his future was ‘flattering’.

The star left PSG for RB Leipzig in 2019 but it is said he could make a return to the club

The star left PSG for RB Leipzig in 2019 but it is said he could make a return to the club

‘Paris, I’ve always said it, it’s my home, my heart club,’ the forward said. ‘I don’t close any doors. Everything is possible in football.

‘It’s flattering to have the biggest clubs in the world interested in me. But it’s also flattering that Leipzig is doing everything to keep me.

‘We are in June, and I am focused on this gathering.’