Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku (Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku as they look to add to their squad before the end of the transfer window, a week from today. Nkunku has been made available for a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea, who won the Conference League and Club World Cup under Enzo Maresca at the end of last season, have been busy themselves in the transfer window so far, adding the likes of Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the forward areas, while it's claimed they're looking to get deals done for Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons, too.
The Blues have allowed the likes of Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Armando Broja to leave this summer and more are available, including Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, among other senior players including ex- Villa pair Carney Chukwuemeka and Axel Disasi.
Maresca said last week of Nkunku and fellow outcast Nicolas Jackson: "Christo is with us like Nico, but it’s the same answer as Nico. We’ll see if they’re going to be here. It’s always better if they find a solution, as they are going to be more happy — and the club the same, but you need someone that is going to buy you. It’s not so easy."
The Sun claim that Nkunku could be of interest to Villa, who themselves are thin on the ground currently; they've sanctioned a flurry of exits this past week, with Jacob Ramsey, Alex Moreno and Leander Dendoncker finding themselves new clubs while Leon Bailey has departed on a loan basis for AS Roma.
Villa and the Blues have done plenty of business in recent times, including deals for Disasi, Chukwuemeka, Ian Maatsen and Omari Kellyman. Nkunku, 27, joined Chelsea in 2023 for £52m but it's claimed that they'd be willing to part with him for a much smaller sum in order to shift him off their books, with a fee of £22m mooted earlier this summer.
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