Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea to battle Manchester United for the signing of RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku – a player Ralf Rangnick has recommended to the Red Devils, according to reports.
The recently capped France international has enjoyed a prolific season, netting 20 goals and providing 13 assists in the Bundesliga as well as bagging 11 goals in 12 European games across the Champions League and Europa League.
Despite playing as an attacking midfielder, Nkunku is the fourth highest scorer in the Bundesliga this campaign and has only netted one less goal than Erling Haaland.
The 24-year-old’s displays have attracted the attention of a number of clubs – Bayern are reported to be keen while Arsenal have tracked him since his time at PSG – while he was the first player Rangnick mentioned to United’s recruitment team when he arrived at the club.
In fact, the interim manager – who held a key role across Red Bull’s football sides when Nkunku moved to Leipzig – was said to be shocked when he learned that United had not been tracking the player, with Rangnick believing him to be one of the most promising young talents in Europe.
Now Chelsea also appear to have joined the race to sign Nkunku, with Sky Sports Germany claiming that Tuchel is ‘highly interested’ in signing the player this summer.
The west London side are already looking at Leipzig for their heir to contract rebel Antonio Rudiger – with Josko Gvardiol top of their central defender wishlist – but they could make it a double raid on the Bundesliga side.
Tuchel is keen to add a younger midfielder with goalscoring instincts to his team, with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho both over 30, while the Blues were at times left light in central midfield this season due to injuries and absences.
The bad news for Tuchel is that Leipzig do not want to sell him, particularly with the club already resigned to losing Konrad Laimer this summer window.
Nkunku has been offered a new deal by Leipzig while there is no release clause in his current contract, which runs until 2024, with any potential suitors likely having to stump up a fee of around £63m.
Speaking few days ago, Leipzig director Oliver Mintzlaff was emphatic in his assertion that Nkunku would not leave , saying: ‘We have clearly discussed it internally: we won’t let Nkunku leave this summer, we told him and his agent.’
