Christopher Nkunku bid farewell to RB Leipzig in impressive fashion, giving Chelsea fans a tantalizing glimpse of what he brings to the table.
The French forward agreed to join Chelsea last year for a fee of £53 million. He has now concluded his time at Leipzig with another superb performance.
Nkunku emerged as one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga this season, sharing the spot with Niclas Füllkrug from Werder Bremen, despite the setback of missing the mid-season World Cup due to a knee strain.
As stated by the Athletic, Nkunku showcased his abilities once again. He scored his 23rd goal of the season across all competitions and provided an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai in Leipzig’s 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal Final.
Medical tests done in September, deal signed in December. Nkunku, set to be unveiled as Chelsea player soon 🔵✨ #CFC https://t.co/MizbZaAfyY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 3, 2023
This performance further highlighted his potential contribution to Chelsea and new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Since joining Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, Nkunku has accumulated an impressive record of 69 goals and 55 assists in 171 appearances for the club.
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The French attacker is anticipated to make an immediate impact on Chelsea’s struggling forward line, which underperformed during their worst top-flight season since 1994.
It has been a disappointing first season under Todd Boehly and Clearlake ownership despite a substantial investment of £600 million in new signings. Nkunku’s arrival is expected to bolster the squad.
The 25-year-old has recently been called up to the senior France squad by head coach Didier Deschamps for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has already decided not to retain Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix for the next season. Additionally, Chelsea will have to make a decision regarding the future of their £97.5 million signing, Romelu Lukaku, who is set to return from his loan spell at Inter Milan.
Pochettino has expressed a willingness to work with Lukaku, but discussions about his position will be postponed until after Inter’s Champions League final against Manchester City.
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Acquiring a new striker alongside Nkunku is a top transfer priority for Chelsea this summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen being targeted after his Serie A title victory.
However, other alternatives are also being considered, as Osimhen’s potential transfer fee is likely to be around £100 million.
Several attacking players may depart from Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks. Kai Havertz is reportedly attracting interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, while star midfielder Mason Mount could potentially join Manchester United.
Other players, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Edouard Mendy are also expected to move on from the club.
