Christopher Nkunku was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer, but a move failed to materialise. It's said that the Blues are insistent on welcoming the RB Leipzig star to Stamford Bridge as Todd Boehly looks to bolster the club's frontline.
football.london understand that the west Londoners, who hold a long-term interest in Nkunku, were considering making a move for the France international in the summer but they were put off by the German giants' €100million (£87.6million) asking price. Late into the window, the Frenchman penned a new deal at the Red Bull Arena, which cast doubt as to whether a switch would be on the cards.
However, it's understood that a release clause was inserted into his contract which only becomes active next summer, meaning Nkunku could leave for considerably less. So, with that being said, football.london has collated everything you need to know on the Leipzig star's potential move to Chelsea...
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Deal 'confirmed'
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea's deal for Christopher Nkunku is confirmed, claiming that all the paperwork is signed and sealed. The Frenchman will join the club in summer 2023, despite claims that he could join early in January amid a search for a striker.
Early January transfer decision
Chelsea have been linked with a number of strikers after a huge injury for Armando Broja, which is set to sideline the youngster for the rest of the season. One option that has been touted is the possibility of accelerating a move for Christopher Nkunku in January rather than waiting until the summer.
However, Fabrizio Romano claims in his CaughtOffside column that the Blues are unlikely to do that and will wait for the summer to compete his arrival.
Nkunku picks up injury
The France national team confirmed that Nkunku picked up an injury and will miss the World Cup. He suffered a sprained knee in training as a potential move to Chelsea looms.
A statement from Les Bleu reads: "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 7p.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."
Real Madrid hijack move
According to Spanish outlet El Nacional, the Frenchman would consider ignoring interest from the Blues in order to secure a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. This report states that Nkunku is interested in playing with Vinicius Junior.
Liverpool send scouts
According to The Sun, Jurgen Klopp's side sent scouts to watch Nkunku when Celtic hosted Leipzig in the Champions League. The report states that Liverpool are aware that they may have ‘missed the boat’, but they are hoping that a move to Chelsea falls through
Signing date set
According to 90min, the Blues have made progress in their attempts to sign the French striker.
Previous reports have reported that Nkunku completed a medical with Chelsea officials as Boehly aimed to kickstart his future transfer business almost immediately after his first transfer window at the club.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that there remains hope that the deal can be boxed off before he represents his county in the Qatar for the World Cup - France's first game is on November 22 against Australia in Al Wakrah.
Potter delivers Chelsea transfer stance
The latest is that this wasn't the case according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg who tweeted: 'News Nkunku: We have been told that it was not a medical in order to finalise a deal with CFC. It should have taken place due to insurance reasons. Yes, Chelsea wants him in 2023 but no decision yet, no signing of a pre-contract so far. But release clause!'
Regardless of what is true and not, Potter was keen not to be drawn in on all the speculation. He concluded: "I know we have not had a conversation before. My answer to that type of stuff, unless it's a player for us I don't really speak about other players. So, no comment."
'Secret medical' complete
The French attacker for RB Leipzig has been in some of the most inspired form in Europe and was attracting admiring glances from both Chelsea and Arsenal, with football.london understanding he has been looked at by the Blues for a while.
In anticipation of this, Bild Germany are writing that the forward has even had a 'secret medical' at Stamford Bridge.
If this is true then the cat is very much out of the bag now but it does demonstrate the shrewdness in which Boehly has operated so far.
£52million release clause
Christopher Nkunku's new contract with RB Leipzig is said to include a £52million release clause. Todd Boehly could be set to prioritise a move for the French forward as his first job of the 2023 summer transfer window by activating the clause and bringing Nkunku to Stamford Bridge.
Sesko influence
Benjamin Sesko's 2023 move to RB Leipzig has seemingly helped Chelsea secure their man, with Christopher Nkunku move to Stamford Bridge now looking more likely.
Sesko, 19, will move to the Bundesliga for the start of the 23/24 campaign, with Leipzig already one step ahead by securing a replacement for Nkunku's switch.
New contract with RB Leipzig
Christopher Nkunku signed a two-year contract extension in June 2022 with his current deal now set to expire in 2026. The new contract has been reported to include a £52million release clause which could see the Frenchman leave the club should any club wish to submit a bid matching that fee.
After signing the contract extension, the 24-year-old said: "I'm pleased to continue wearing the RB Leipzig shirt. After our great achievement in winning the DFB Cup, it remained clear that my story here isn't over yet - we want more. RB Leipzig have made a name for themselves on the international stage in recent years and have shown time and again that we can compete for titles. We want to build on that going forward and go one step further."
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