Out-of-favour AC Milan attacker Christopher Nkunku is on the verge of rejoining Bundesliga club RB Leipzig this summer.
According to an update from reputed German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Christopher Nkunku has also been the subject of interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies are eager to bolster their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker in the final days of the ongoing transfer window, and they have had their sights set on the 28-year-old out-of-favour AC Milan forward.
However, per Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzig and AC Milan already have an agreement for a loan deal with a purchase option worth less than €30 million. While Newcastle United briefly seemed to have an opportunity to hijack the move, the Frenchman has now given the green light to return to the Red Bull Arena in the coming days.
Christopher Nkunku and a career in need of revival
Christopher Nkunku has struggled to rebuild form since joining AC Milan from Chelsea last summer. Once among the world’s most productive attackers, the 28-year-old has become a shell of that players due to persistent fitness issues and resulting poor performance levels.
The French attacker still managed a decent output of eight goals and three assists in only 1,528 minutes of game time in 35 appearances across all competitions after joining AC Milan. However, a summer departure has appeared imminent, Ruben Amorim assigned Nkunku to the “bomb squad” after the pre-season campaign. That has not affected his stock, with several clubs vying for his signature.
What next for Nkunku?
Newcastle United’s interest in Christopher Nkunku made tactical sense. The Magpies have lost productivity since Anthony Gordon’s departure and have been scouring the market for attacking reinforcement. Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa reportedly face an uncertain future at Newcastle after a difficult debut season, though the latter started the club’s opening Premier League game this term against Liverpool.
Several strikers, including Liam Delap, have thus emerged on Newcastle United’s wishlist, with Nkunku also a viable target. While the Frenchman struggled with fitness issues during his spell at Chelsea, his output was respectable (18 goals and 5 assists in only 2,844 minutes of game time), and his Premier League experience would have strengthened Newcastle’s depth.
However, with RB Leipzig already holding an agreement for a loan deal, all that remained was for Nkunku to approve the move. The Bundesliga club’s interest has been understandable; Romulo and Conrad Harder are the only recognised strikers in Martin Demichelis’s squad. Per Plettenberg, Nkunku has settled on RB Leipzig as his next destination, and the completion of the loan move is imminent.