Christopher Nkunku could well be the ideal addition for Manchester United this summer, and Ralf Rangnick in particular should have every belief that they can land the RB Leipzig star.
Nkunku has been in spectacular form for the German side this season. The France international has bagged a remarkable 32 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions and has added a further 20 assists to boot, marking him out as one of Europe’s top forwards.
That form has of course led to him being linked with a move away from Leipzig this summer, and given his numbers in front of goal, he shouldn’t be short of admirers. Among them could well be United, with the Reds being continually linked in recent weeks.
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United will of course be in the market for a new forward or two, with Rangnick suggesting they need at least a couple of quality additions in attack. Nkunku would certainly fit the bill, although no deals are set to be finalised until Erik ten Hag has been given the chance to get his feet under the table.
Leipzig, understandably, are not keen on letting their prized asset go, with the Bundesliga club’s director Oliver Mintzlaff insisting they’re not open to letting Nkunku go this summer. Rangnick though, more than anyone, will know there’s still every possibility of it happening.
The Red Bull model, which Rangnick of course played a big part in moulding, has regularly seen its clubs cash in on their top talents at opportune moments. With Nkunku’s contract running until the summer of 2024, Leipzig could well look to do the same this summer.
Rangnick is thought to be a huge fan of the 24-year-old, with the United interim boss reported to have labelled the forward as the “best young player in Germany”. The 63-year-old is also said to have wanted to look into the possibility of signing him back in January, only to be left astounded when he was told United were not even tracking the player.
Having aired his grievances over the club’s dealings at the start of the year, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to United fans if Nkunku was among the names Rangnick had been taking a look at. The German has already name-checked Luis Diaz and Dusan Vlahovic, and you don’t need to be reminded how they’ve got on since then.
United though could have the opportunity to rectify their error in the summer. Nkunku has shown he has all the attributes to thrive under Ten Hag, with the Ajax boss enjoying plenty of success with similar forwards in the shape of Antony, Steven Berghuis and Dusan Tadic.
As well as his goals and assists, Nkunku has proven to be a versatile option at Leipzig, and with United in need of more options across all areas of attack, the Frenchman would certainly help in that regard. With Rangnick set to move into a consultancy role at the end of the season, he could yet play a vital role in United making the ideal start to life under Ten Hag.
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