Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is prepared to pay Christopher Nkunku's £52million release clause at RB Leipzig. The German club's new sporting director, Max Eberl, has now hinted that the Frenchman is expected to leave the Bundesliga at the end of the season.
Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Blues ahead of a move for the 2023/24 season, as football.london reported back in October. The French forward scored an astonishing 31 goals and also registered 20 assists in 48 appearances for the German club in all competitions last term – and was deservedly crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Season.
The Blues could be getting one of European football's most sought-after attacking players should they pull this clever deal off. Nkunku would add a significant improvement to Chelsea's attacking threat with Kai Havertz, Armando Broja and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all having struggled for form in front of goal.
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Leipzig have repeatedly played down the rumours regarding Nkunku's future, but Eberl, who held his first press conference since taking over as sporting director on Friday, has hinted that the Frenchman's departure is virtually assured. When asked about the France international, he responded: "With Christo, I can’t confirm anything yet.
"There is a lot of interest and a lot of talk with us. Accordingly, something is looming."
football.london understands Chelsea also possess a long-term interest in Leipzig centre-back Gvardiol. The Croatian defender has impressed since moving to the Bundesliga in 2021 from Dinamo Zagreb and the Blues are looking to sign him, as well as Nkunku, next summer.
The French forward was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an injury just days before the tournament got underway in Qatar. It looks as though it is now a matter of when, not if, Nkunku will complete his move to Stamford Bridge with reports suggesting he has already completed a medical with the Blues in the summer.
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