Talented French attacker Christopher Nkunku has left RB Leipzig in an impressive manner, offering Chelsea fans a preview of an exciting future.
Having signed a contract with the Blues last year, Nkunku is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the upcoming weeks for a transfer fee of £53 million.
His addition to the team will provide a crucial boost to the attack, which has struggled to score goals in a disappointing Premier League season, having only managed 38 goals. With an official announcement done, the player is all set to make his preseason debut next season.
The 25-year-old forward had an outstanding season, sharing the Bundesliga’s top scorer position with Niclas Füllkrug by scoring 16 goals.
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Despite missing the midseason World Cup due to a knee injury, Nkunku made an impressive comeback. His injury concerned Chelsea fans, but his performance on the pitch has been remarkable.
Official, confirmed. Christopher Nkunku signed a six year deal as Chelsea player valid until June 2029. 🚨🔵 #CFC
Fee close to €60m to RB Leipzig.
“I am incredibly happy — big effort was made to bring me to the club, I wanna show Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch”. pic.twitter.com/VIcgPnMmXN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2023
In the 2021-2022 season, Nkunku was named the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year. He outperformed even renowned goal scorer Robert Lewandowski, scoring 20 goals and providing 13 assists.
The Frenchman’s contributions were instrumental in helping Leipzig secure their first trophy, winning the DFB Pokal Final against SC Freiburg.
Recently, in the German Cup final, Nkunku continued to showcase his abilities, scoring his 23rd goal of the season and assisting Dominik Szoboszlai in a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
His performances have made him a hero among Leipzig fans and highlighted the potential he could bring to Chelsea under the management of Mauricio Pochettino.
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The former PSG forward has been involved in a total of 83 goals (47 scored, 36 assisted) in his 119 appearances in the Bundesliga. Recently, he was called up to the senior France squad by coach Didier Deschamps for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece.
Nkunku is expected to immediately enhance the Chelsea forward line, which struggled and had its lowest top-flight finish since 1994 despite significant investments in new signings.
Pochettino’s rejection of Joao Felix’s services creates an opportunity for Nkunku to play a crucial role as a newly acquired dynamic superstar in the upcoming season.
1. Christopher Nkunku’s style of play
Nkunku is highly regarded for his versatility, being able to play effectively on either wing or in a supporting role to the striker.
While he has even played as a wing-back in the past, his attacking qualities make him better suited for other positions. Nkunku’s dead-ball skills and dribbling ability stand out as his strongest attributes.
He has won penalties and scored direct free-kicks, boasting a solid penalty conversion rate. Equally proficient with both feet, he is a skilled finisher and a valuable creator, regularly providing key passes in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea faced significant challenges in scoring goals last season, ranking among the lowest-scoring teams in the league. Nkunku has the potential to outscore all but Erling Haaland among Premier League strikers.
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It’s worth noting that Haaland also played in the Bundesliga, and Nkunku has proven himself in both domestic and Champions League competitions. However, Nkunku’s role under new manager Pochettino remains to be seen.
However, his consistent ability to outperform expected goals (xG) in recent seasons suggests that his arrival will contribute to increased creativity and improved goal-scoring efficiency for his team.
2. Christopher Nkunku’s role in the starting XI
The French star is most effective when deployed as a second striker, playing off a central forward.
While he can also perform well as a lone striker, it is crucial to recognize his ability as a provider and not solely rely on him for goals.
Therefore, Chelsea should consider signing a top-class striker like Victor Osimhen or Dusan Vlahovic to complement Nkunku’s strengths.
The attacker’s versatility offers his new manager various tactical options. He can play on the wings, in a central role behind the main striker (which seems the most likely), or as the lone forward. Chelsea have confidence in his ability to excel in these positions once he joins the team.
Christopher Nkunku is named Bundesliga Player of the Season! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/sybH3U8XMw
— GOAL (@goal) May 16, 2022
His optimal position is just behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2 formation, similar to what he experienced during his time in Germany. This formation was briefly used by former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, yielding mixed results, but it is expected to bring out the best in Nkunku.
Regarding Romelu Lukaku, who was on loan at Inter Milan, Chelsea must decide on his future as he returns from his loan spell.
Pochettino has expressed his willingness to work with the Belgian striker, and discussions about his position will resume soon. Lukaku made headlines for his poor performance in the UEFA Champions League final, which cost Inter dearly.
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Overall, Chelsea’s focus should be on utilizing Nkunku’s strengths as a second striker, while also considering the potential addition of a top-class striker. Lukaku is unlikely to be Chelsea’s primary striker in the future, as he is not interested in returning to London.
Speculation suggests that Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic are being considered as potential replacements for the Milan star.
Nkunku’s playmaking abilities would complement the new striker, and his goal-scoring prowess provides Chelsea fans with optimism following a disappointing 2022-23 season.
