Chelsea are reportedly pushing RB Leipzig to let Christopher Nkunku leave early in order to complete a move to Stamford Bridge in January.
According to Daily Mirror, Chelsea are moving along with the Christopher Nkunku transfer and are looking to try and accelerate the move to get the deal done in January, rather than having to wait until next summer.
Chairman and co-owner Todd Boehly orchestrated a summer spend of more than £250 million. But the American tycoon is not ready to stop splashing the cash just yet as the Chelsea hierarchy plans to back their new head coach, Graham Potter.
Having shifted out old board members and football decision-makers in Bruce Buck, Marina Granovskaia, and Petr Cech, Boehly has played an active part in implementing major reforms throughout the organisation.
Thomas Tuchel was let off earlier this season, and Potter has since taken over the reins as first-team manager. Joe Shields is expected to join as head of recruitment from Southampton, while Christopher Vivell is set to be appointed as the club’s new technical director following his departure from RB Leipzig.
It is said that after a hasty and frantic summer, Boehly is planning to get a head start over their competitors for their desired targets. And that’s just what Chelsea have done in their pursuit of Christopher Nkunku so far.
Reports earlier this month stated that that the 24-year-old had inked a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea after undergoing precursory medical checks. The reports added that Chelsea are ready to pay more than Nkunku’s £52 million release clause to win the race for his services.
Daily Mirror now reports that Boehly is not satisfied with reaching an agreement in principle for Nkunku’s transfer next summer and wants to fast-track the move to January if possible. Chelsea are concerned that there is still a window of opportunity for other teams to come in and hijack the deal between now and next summer, with PSG and Liverpool both keeping tabs on the versatile attacker.
Ideally, the west Londoners hope to wrap up the deal before the World Cup begins. The player himself is ready to join Chelsea, but Leipzig are unwilling to part ways with their star forward midway through the season as they have no suitable replacement, with Benjamin Sesko set to arrive next summer.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can accelerate the Nkunku transfer. Either way, they are going to get a top-quality player on their hands. Ranked 25th in the most recent Ballon d’Or event, Nkunku scored 35 goals and registered 20 assists across all competitions last season and beat off competition from Robert Lewandowski to win the Bundesliga Player of the Season award.
Nkunku has made a strong start to the 2022/23 campaign in Bundesliga and has already reached double figures in all competitions this time around as he further cements his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards.
