Manchester United were among two Premier League clubs rejected by long-term transfer target Christopher Nkunku during the summer window
Christopher Nkunku turned down Manchester United to join RB Leipzig
Christopher Nkunku turned down Manchester United to join RB Leipzig(Image: (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images))
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Christopher Nkunku reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of re-joining RB Leipzig. The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Old Trafford ever since his £52million transfer to Chelsea back in 2023.
A knee injury derailed his Blues career before it even started with United swiftly taking a keen interest due to the link between Nkunku and club director Christopher Vivell, who was previously at Leipzig and Chelsea. However, it was AC Milan that signed him permanently last summer.
Former United boss Ruben Amorim is now in charge at San Siro and with Nkunku not part of his plans, he was free to depart which has seen him seal a temporary return to Leipzig. He grabbed an assist off the bench on his return last weekend but then started Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen.
However, the German club were not the only interested party, as confirmed by Leipzig's sporting director Marcel Schafer.
He said: “The transfer wouldn’t have happened without Christo’s steadfastness. Two Premier League clubs were prepared to go to the limit – we wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
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United have only been loosely linked to Nkunku recently while Newcastle perhaps would have been a much more expected destination given the sale of Anthony Gordon and arrival of Matthias Jassle.
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According to BILD, Nkunku only wanted a return to Leipzig which saw him reject a move to both United and Newcastle.
Signing an attacker was never a huge priority for United over the summer with a midfield rebuild the priority for Michael Carrick. Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba have subsequently joined.
Marcus Rashford
Man United may have pursued Christopher Nkunku had Marcus Rashford left
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Had Marcus Rashford departed, United may well have looked at bringing in a forward but he was reintegrated into the squad following the World Cup.
A left-back was certainly a higher priority with all of Lewis Hall, Jorge Salinas and Joaquin Seys on United's shortlist. A deadline day enquiry for Rayan Ait-Nouri was also rejected by rivals Manchester City.
Baleba, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui can all fill in there and will almost certainly be needed with Luke Shaw unlikely to play every game due to his previous injury problems.