Manchester United will have to pay £100million if they are to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku this summer.
The Frenchman netted 35 goals for the Bundesliga side last term while also providing 15 assists in a starring campaign. This has understandably sparked transfer interest among Europe’s leading clubs, although a report from local media outlet Leipziger Volkszeitung claims that the German club are working on a new deal for the forward.
New United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to bolster his ranks this summer as Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been identified as the leading candidate for the club in midfielder while Ajax forward Antony is a leading target for Ten Hag who is keen to reunite with the 22-year-old - Ajax's star player last season. United are in pole position to land the Brazilian given his strong relationship with the Red Devils boss at the Amsterdam Arena while the player’s representatives have travelled to Europe in order to discuss a possible transfer this summer.
Ten Hag is inheriting a greatly diminished first-team squad at Old Trafford with Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Lee Grant and Juan Mata all exiting as free agents. The club will also listen to offers for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial and Eric Bailly as further cuts to the existing squad are likely.
A report from the Independent has outlined how Nkunku is rated highly at Old Trafford and the club have been monitoring the possibility of making a transfer approach for the French international. However, such an approach is complicated and unlikely to be completed this summer.
That is because Leipzig – especially in the light of offering the player a new deal – value Nkunku at £100million and this is a transfer fee that United are unlikely to engage with. Their pursuits of De Jong and Antony are likely to be the bulk of their transfer outlay this summer with focus also on adding a defender to their squad.
Have Your Say! Which players should Man Utd prioritise signing this summer? Tell us what you think here.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have all looked into signing the player but the Reds impending signing of Darwin Nunez means they are unlikely to continue their interest. While the Gunners and PSG are unlikely in a position to make a move this summer.
Nkunku is therefore likely to stay at the Bundesliga club ahead of next season but it does set up the possibility of a transfer saga in the summer of 2023. RB Leipzig will be wary that an injury or loss of form could see the forward’s price tag drop significantly but their approach is likely to deter serious interest this year.
