Chelsea set to hit major roadblock in pursuit of 35-goal French attacker

Chelsea set to hit a roadblock in the pursuit of RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku

According to the Leipziger Volkszeitung (h/t Metro), RB Leipzig player Christopher Nkunku will sign a contract extension with RB Leipzig despite Chelsea interest.

The offensive midfielder had a terrific season with the Bundesliga club, scoring 35 goals and assisting 19 times in 51 games, and he is a significant figure that the new Todd Bohely ownership has tried to pursue to improve the attacking department.

However, it is now expected that the highly regarded French international’s contract, which runs through 2024, will be extended. Nkunku will receive a hefty pay raise, and his new contract will include a €60million release clause that will kick in during the summer of 2023.

Nkunku has piqued the interest of a number of big teams, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United. 

Chelsea have been unable to find a natural striker capable of scoring in crucial matches. Romelu Lukaku was brought in from Inter to help with this problem, but he has fallen short of expectations.

Nkunku, who was named Bundesliga Player of the Year, could be a good fit for the Blues, who have struggled to score goals this season. Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, and Hakim Ziyech have all failed to establish themselves in Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineup.

With Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger set to leave on free transfers, fans might have assumed that Chelsea’s focus in the summer window would be to bolster the defence. However, throughout the second half of the season, the team’s attacking problems were highlighted by poor performances up front.

In the current circumstance, Nkunku is an excellent candidate since he can fill the hole in several places at once. He can play in midfield, out on the flanks and down the middle. Such versatility can only help Tuchel.

If the aforementioned information regarding his impending contract extension is correct, it will be a major setback for Chelsea. An extension would undoubtedly complicate matters as Leipzig would then be able to restore a lot of control when it comes to potentially selling the ex-PSG star. 

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However, Chelsea could then have more time to assess if the investment is worthwhile. They’ll be able to see if last season was anything more than a fluke. If he continues his breathtaking spell, then the Blues would be wise to go all out for him.

For now, only time will tell if Nkunku officially pens a new deal at the Red Bull Arena.