RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku has been ruled out of the World Cup just days before the tournament kicks off in Qatar.
The France international was included in Didier Deschamps 26-man World Cup squad but has suffered a knee injury ahead of the tournament starting this weekend. Nkunku has impressed for RB Leipzig so far this season, scoring 17 goals in 23 appearances, and was expected to be one of the star players at the World Cup.
As previously reported by football.london, Chelsea hold a long-term interest in the 25-year-old and the attacker has already penned a pre-contract agreement with the Blues ahead of a proposed move in time for the 2023/24 campaign. Todd Boehly and Chelsea scouts will be monitoring a number of talents that feature for their respective nations in Qatar over the next month as they prepare plans to back Graham Potter in the January transfer window.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly has signed Chelsea's own Kylian Mbappe as Timo Werner transfer myth quashed
Nkunku had signed a new contract with Leipzig in the summer which included a £52million release clause that would allow him to leave at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. The Blues are in pole position to sign the 25-year-old after reports suggested a 'secret medical' had already been completed by Nkunku with a pre-contract agreement in place after Boehly had indicated he would be willing to activate the Frenchman's release clause next summer.
Chelsea fans would have been keen to see how Nkunku would have performed for Les Bleus at the World Cup, but his tournament is already over after picking up a devastating knee injury just days before the tournament begins on Sunday.
Offering an update on the 25-year-old's condition, France released a statement which read: "Injured in training on Tuesday, Christopher Nkunku must give up participating in the World Cup.
"The RB Leipzig striker left the training session on Tuesday before its end, injured in the left knee. The radiological examinations taken in the evening unfortunately revealed that it was a sprain.
"Didier Deschamps recorded Christopher Nkunku's package. A medical file has been sent to FIFA, a regulatory prerequisite for the replacement of an injured player in the group since the list was filed on Monday at 7 p.m.
"The name of Christopher Nkunku's replacement will be communicated once the medical file has been validated by FIFA. The whole group shares Christopher's sadness and wishes him a speedy recovery."
READ NEXT:
Three vital transfers Paul Winstanley can make for Chelsea in Todd Boehly £165m Brighton spree
Chelsea set to make millions from FIFA during World Cup that will pay off Graham Potter demands
Paul Winstanley Chelsea role announced in boost to Todd Boehly transfer plans
Full list of Chelsea transfer targets going to Qatar 2022 World Cup amid Boehly scouting mission
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
