Christopher Nkunku has pre-contract agreement with Chelsea
At RB Leipzig, Nkunku has become one of the most exciting attacking players in Europe.
RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea, according to The Athletic. The Premier League club are reportedly paying the Bundesliga side a price in excess of the 24-year-old’s €60million ($58.8m) release clause.
Chelsea are spending a higher figure to secure the signing of the France international in advance to stop the threat from other interested parties. At 24, Nkunku is ready to make the jump to the Premier League. The Frenchman emerged as one of PSG’s most promising academy players, but given the quality of the French club’s attack, he never got the minutes he needed to continue to develop.
At RB Leipzig, he has become one of the most exciting attacking players in Europe. In his first season, he scored five goals and provided 15 assists and there has been a steady increase in output since.
His goal tally reached seven in 2020-21, but his numbers really took off last season, scoring 35 goals and registering 20 assists in 52 games. Nkunku has already hit the ground running this season with eight in 12 games, including a brace in Leipzig’s 4-0 win over Bochum on Saturday.
New Chelsea sporting director
Liverpool were also interested in signing Nkunku but Chelsea are now set to add him to their attacking options. Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are continuing to build both on and off the field at Stamford Bridge and are looking to appoint a new sporting director. A range of second-round meetings with possible candidates are scheduled to take place this week.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter has brought in recruitment specialist Kyle Macaulay, who will work closely with Chelsea’s eventual new directors.