RB Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl has hinted that Christopher Nkunku is close to joining Chelsea in a move that would happen next summer. As football.london reported in October, the Blues appear to have won the race to sign the France international.
It's understood that the 25-year-old attacker has signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea and will move to Stamford Bridge in time for the 2023/24 season. However, the deal is not completely final yet and there are some details that need to be sorted out before the transfer is official.
Nkunku has been watched by Chelsea for the past couple of seasons and club sources have told football.london just how impressed they have been. The interest originated from when Roman Abramovich was the owner, but that feeling has stayed the same – or even increased – since Todd Boehly's consortium and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in May.
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The player himself is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge and has been impressed by how Chelsea have approached the situation. The Frenchman only signed a new contract at the Red Bull Arena in the summer, but that looks like it was to protect his value more than anything else.
Now, Leipzig's newly-appointed sporting director Eberl has been speaking about the future of their star attacker. Eberl said that while he cannot say anything definitive just yet, there is something in the pipeline.
"With Christo, I cannot confirm anything yet," Eberl told reporters, via Metro. "But there is a lot of interest and a lot of talk with us. Accordingly, something is looming."
Chelsea could lose a couple of attackers in the next two windows. Hakim Ziyech wanted to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer and it is unlikely much has changed given his lack of game time so far this season.
Christian Pulisic, meanwhile, has been handed more of an opportunity by Graham Potter and the American has spoken very highly of his new head coach. However, there is set to be plenty of interest in the 24-year-old, who has about 18 months remaining on his Chelsea contract.
So the signing of Nkunku is integral. Not only does he add the depth Chelsea will need, but the Frenchman is seen as someone who can massively boost the side's title chances in upcoming seasons and get them closer to Manchester City.
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