According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku come the end of the season.
The Blues have reportedly agreed a fee above Nkunku’s €60m buyout clause, however with an easier, presumably longer-term payment plan.
It’s no secret the London club have struggled to recruit a reliable striker in recent times, making big money moves for Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku that have both left a lot to be desired.
Whilst Havertz scored Chelsea’s Champions League winning goal in 2020/21, the German hasn’t hit the heights first expected of him, and Lukaku being loaned back to Inter Milan just a season on from arriving at Stamford Bridge for £97.5m ultimately speaks for itself.
In Nkunku, manager Graham Potter will be hopeful of finding the reliable number nine that has forgone his predecessors, as the Frenchman boasts astronomical numbers over the past two seasons.
2021/22 saw the Leipzig forward score 20 goals and assist a further 15 in just 34 Bundesliga games, keeping up this fine form this campaign with 12 goals and two assists in his opening 15 league appearances.
Moreover, across the last two Champions League campaigns, the Frenchman has an impressive return of 10 goals and three assists in just 12 outings showing he is capable of delivering at an elite level.
On paper, Nkunku looks to have the makings of a top player, and his versatility in being able to operate in various attacking positions offers yet another string to his bow.
Whilst the Frenchman won’t join the Blues in January, Chelsea appears to have this one all but completed, so expect to see Nkunku grace the Premier League come 2023/24.
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