Chelsea are expected to confirm the arrival of RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku in a £52million transfer this month. The Frenchman signed a pre-contract agreement with the Blues last year and has already completed all medical tests ahead a move to Stamford Bridge, football.london understands.
Nkunku scored and grabbed an assist in his final game for Leipzig as he helped the German outfit lift the DFB-Pokal trophy. football.london understands that the west Londoners have been sending scouts to watch Nkunku over the last couple of years, and they've been very impressed.
Despite having missed two months of the season, the RB Leipzig star managed to get his hands on the Bundesliga Golden Boot along with Niclas Fullkrug, scoring 16 goals. In January, Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl suggested that Nkunku will join Chelsea this summer - telling BILD: "The signs are very, very clear that he's moving to Chelsea."
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Then, following the DFB-Pokal final, Eberl was asked again if the forward will join the Blues. As quoted by Sky Sports Germany, he replied: "He could be." New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to sign a new striker this summer despite Nkunku's arrival at the club with a report from The Guardian stating the Blues are 'determined' to not rush their search for a talisman because they believe that Nkunku could do a sufficient job at leading the line.
With that being said, football.london takes a look at the possible shirt numbers Nkunku could take at Chelsea as he edges closer to being confirmed as a new Blues player. In Paris Saint-Germain's youth team, Nkunku wore the shirt numbers 7, 8, 10, 14 and 15.
He also wore the shirt number 24 in the early days of his professional football career in PSG before changing to number 11 towards the end of his time in the French capital. At RB Leipzig, Nkunku wore the number 18 and has not changed since he arrived in Germany back in 2019.
This shirt number is currently taken by injured striker Armando Broja at Stamford Bridge. Unless the Albanian forward is happy to give his shirt up for the Frenchman, Nkunku will have to choose a different number.
There is the potential of a few numbers becoming available with so many players set to leave Chelsea this summer as Todd Boehly aims to trim down the squad. Mateo Kovacic is in talks with Manchester City over a £35million transfer which could see the number 8 shirt become available.
However, the Blues are pushing to complete the signing of Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP which could see the Uruguayan take that number if he arrives at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino has opted against signing Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria on loan next season meaning the number 11 and 20 have become available at the club for the 2023/24 campaign.
Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech are all facing uncertain futures at Chelsea and if they were to leave, their numbers would be available (10, 29, 9 and 22, respectively.) Edouard Mendy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also leave the club this summer which may see the number 12 and 16 become available - although Nkunku has never wore these numbers in his career before.
Squad numbers currently available to Christopher Nkunku: 2, 3, 11, 20.
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