Christopher Nkunku has attracted interest fromManchester United and Paris Saint-Germain amid speculation that his time at Chelsea, who signed him for £52 million in 2023, could be nearing an end.
According to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, Nkunku is expected to leave Chelsea in January after struggling to secure a regular spot in the first team. His representatives are reportedly exploring options for the French forward.
While Nkunku remains committed to earning his place, it’s evident that he isn’t a key player under Maresca. The 27-year-old featured in Chelsea’s season opener against Manchester City but has only started one more Premier League match since, against Southampton.
Christopher Nkunku to LaLiga?
Christopher Nkunku
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Catalan outletSport reports that Pini Zahavi, the agent of FC Barcelona boss Hansi Flick and star striker Robert Lewandowski, has offered Nkunku, who is under contract with the English side until 2029, to the Spanish side.
The Frenchman joined the Blues last season, but a serious injury delayed his debut, and he hasn’t replicated the form that convinced Chelsea to pay £52 million for him 18 months ago.
Jonathan Johnson of CBS Sports joined the latest PSG Talking podcast and shared his thoughts on Nkunku potentially returning to his boyhood club. The French football expert explained that the move makes sense, highlighting that the Chelsea outcast aligns well with what manager Luis Enrique is looking for.
“PSG need to find essentially that player who can play similarly to [Gonçalo] Ramos, be a danger in front of goal, tick the boxes that a false nine requires, but also be prolific enough to be a traditional central attacking figure as well,” Johnson said.
“Somebody like an Nkunku—whether it’s on loan or an ambitious attempt to bring him in permanently—makes sense for this squad. Whether or not it’s something that can be engineered with Chelsea, I know there have been rumors that he’s upset with his current situation. We’ll just have to wait and see. But that is the profile I think makes sense for PSG.”