RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has poured cold water on "speculation" that Christopher Nkunku has agreed to join Chelsea.
It emerged late last week that Nkunku underwent medical checks with the Blues over the summer which were kept secret to avoid unnecessary furore. The Frenchman, 24, is one of Europe's most in-demand forwards after scoring an astonishing 35 goals last season, and Chelsea have seemingly stolen a march on rival suitors to position themselves at the front of the queue.
Nkunku's €60million (£52m) release clause will come into effect next year and Graham Potter's side are willing to pay more than that sum to ensure they wrap up a deal. However, despite all of these details hitting the headlines, Rose dismissed everything which has been said about his player as "speculation".
Asked about the rumours circling around Nkunku, the Leipzig manager said: "It's speculation, we don't comment on it. We don't care, we don't care." Rose was speaking ahead of Wednesday evening's Champions League clash with Celtic, during which Nkunku will attempt to score his first European goal of the campaign.
The former Paris Saint-Germain prospect netted seven times in six continental games last season and has six Bundesliga goals to his name already this time around, highlighting just why Chelsea are so keen to secure his services.
Nkunku's latest impact in front of goal came against top-flight rivals Bochum on Saturday, when he and former Blues forward Timo Werner grabbed two apiece in a resounding 4-0 victory. While Rose was tight-lipped regarding Nkunku as he spoke on Tuesday, he heaped praise on Werner for the way he has re-adapted to life in Saxony, following a challenging spell in the Premier League.
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"In the weeks that I have been here, I have never seen Timo uncertain," Rose said. "He is a really cool customer, a cheerful person and always in a good mood. He has never left the impression that he is beating himself up about things and instead he always seems to be ready to perform.
"At the end of the day, those playing upfront define themselves by goals, but if you believe in yourself and put in the hard yards, as Timo did against Bochum, then you will inevitably also be rewarded for that. We all know the kind of quality he has and how he is able to find space. He has now started to score goals again – and we all hope that this can continue."
Leipzig have their work cut out to qualify from Champions League Group F after losing to Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk in their first two games. Victory over Celtic in midweek appears to be near-essential if they are to have any chance of progressing to the last 16.
