Chelsea have reportedly reached a pre-contract agreement to sign 24-year-old French international Christopher Nkunku next summer.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea have reached a pre-season agreement with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig to sign 24-year-old French international Christopher Nkunku next summer.
The young attacker has built a solid reputation for himself following a stellar 2021/22 campaign. Nkunku scored 35 goals and provided 18 assists in 52 games across all competitions. Nkunku has continued his good form in the current season, netting eight times and assisting once over 12 matches.
The 24-year-old is a hot commodity ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and a solid showing in Qatar will only raise his value. Chelsea, for their part, are acting fast and are committed to paying over Nkunku’s €60million release clause to land their man.
This will not be the first time that Leipzig have benefitted from such an approach. Liverpool made the same move to land Naby Keita in 2017, with the player moving to Merseyside in the summer of 2018. Chelsea will hope that Nkunku enjoys better fortunes once he moves to the Premier League.
A prolific goalscorer who is difficult to pin down, the Frenchman is exactly what Chelsea lack at the moment. The arrival of Raheem Sterling has added some bite to the Blues’ attack. But the Englishman has, in all honesty, not developed into the world-beater he threatened to be while at Liverpool.
Chelsea parted ways with Romelu Lukaku (on loan) and Timo Werner last summer, leaving themselves short of options upfront. Despite bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Graham Potter lacks reliable options, especially with Armando Broja being the second-choice forward on the roster.
Nkunku is a dynamic presence and is yet to hit his peak. Playing under a forward-thinking manager like Potter alongside world-class players at Stamford Bridge will only accelerate his development. Chelsea have not had good luck with strikers the past few years, and Nkunku will hope to break that jinx.
Todd Boehly has proven himself to be an active owner who has big plans for the club. Landing Nkunku is certainly a massive statement. But Chelsea fans will do well to hold their breath unless the deal is confirmed for the 24-year-old French international.
