Report: Chelsea want this French star over Rafa Leao and Sasa Kalajdzic in 2023

Chelsea will target the signing of Christopher Nkunku next summer

According to the Telegraph (Subscription Required) (h/t Evening Standard), Chelsea will target the signature of RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku to further bolster their attacking during the 2023 summer transfer window. The forward is one of the Blues’ top targets to get 12 months from now.

Nkunku signed a new contract with Leipzig this summer. He was valued around £100m by the German club before his latest contract was signed. Chelsea, on the other hand, have him in their sights ahead of the likes of AC Milan’s Rafa Leao and Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic.

Following Sadio Mane’s exit at Liverpool, the 24-year-old French international was linked with a move to Liverpool as well before they signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica. Now, it seems as if he is going to stay at Leipzig for another year at the least.

Nkunku, who is a youth product of Paris-Saint Germain, arrived at Leipzig in the summer of 2019. Since then, he has shown gradual improvement and produced one of his best performances on a consistent basis last season.

The 24-year-old scored 35 goals and assisted 20 in 52 appearances in all competitions last season, owing to an average of more than one goal contribution per appearance. Positionally, he can play anywhere across the forward line or as a number 10 and be a menace to defences.

There is no doubt that Nkunku is producing elite numbers now and has the potential to be one of the best forwards in Europe for years to come. At 24, one can imagine he has some rough edges to his game which can be worked on to make him the best during his peak years.

If Chelsea manage to keep a close eye on him during this season and make a move very early next summer, they could get a readymade top-quality player, who can come and instantly be a difference-maker.

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The other side of the story is that we saw Timo Werner, who was previously firing for Leipzig before joining Chelsea, came unstuck in the Premier League. Hope it is not two in two in that regard if or when Nkunku comes.

His versatility would make anyone’s mouth water and the Blues can play him virtually anywhere in midfield and attack – thus killing multiple birds with one stone.