Chelsea transfer target Christopher Nkunku will miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after suffering a sprained knee in training one week before Les Bleus' first game.
The RB Leipzig attacker has been replaced by Tottenham's own transfer target Randal Kolo Muani. The Frankfurt forward was looked at by Spurs whilst on the books at Nantes but chose Bundesliga over Premier League and has impressed at his new club.
Antonio Conte's men may well be rueing missing out on Muani after his contract expired over the summer and will now have to watch him in action for his country following the injury to Nkunku.
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Chelsea fans may also be rueing the situation as the 23-year-old first choice attacker had been expected to complete a deal to join Graham Potter's squad after a pre-agreement was reached for his transfer shortly after the summer window closed.
Nkunku shone for Leipzig last season, recording 20 goals and 15 assists in the league. He had made an equally impressive start to this campaign, scoring 12 in his first 15 league games. Muani was the chosen replacement by Didier Deschamps and his inclusion makes perfect sense.
Since joining Frankfurt he has scored five times and assisted 10 in Germany, as well as helping his new side progress to the Champions League last-16 having been in Tottenham's group. Muani is perhaps more of a striker than Nkunku, who prefers to play off the shoulder and behind, but such is his form, France remain strong in the forward line despite a host of injuries including N'Golo Kante and Presnel Kimpembe.
Whilst Qatar 2022 is the perfect shop window for clubs looking to sell players and others in the market, Nkunku's injury is unlikely to hamper or change the landscape too much for Chelsea or Tottenham. Nkunku had completed a precautionary medical over the summer with Chelsea's own checks in place, though his injury may put an end to their hopes of bringing him in earlier than the summer. Whereas Tottenham had missed out on Muani over the summer and will have to pay big money to get him next year regardless of World Cup fortunes.
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