Manchester United and Chelsea could go head-to-head for one of Europe's most in-form frontman
(Image credit: PA)
Manchester United and Chelsea could go head-to-head for the signature of Christopher Nkunku this summer, according to reports.
The RB Leipzig forward is a man in demand after an excellent season at the Red Bull Arena.
Nkunku has scored 34 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions this term, 20 of which have come in the Bundesliga.
Only Robert Lewandowski, Patrik Schick and Erling Haaland have found the back of the net more often in the German top flight, which concludes this weekend.
That goal record is even more impressive given Nkunku has not always played as a central striker.
The Frenchman has also been deployed on both flanks and as an attacking midfielder this season.
(Image credit: Getty)
That versatility only makes him more appealing to clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both keeping tabs on the former PSG man.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
According to Florian Plettenberg, a reporter for Sky Germany, both Premier League sides want to sign Nkunku this summer.
However, Leipzig want to keep hold of their star man and have offered him a contract extension.
His current deal has two years left to run and does not include a release clause.
United and Chelsea may therefore have to spend big if they want to prise the France international away from his current employers in the coming months.
(Image credit: Getty)
Plettenberg adds that most of United's interest comes from Ralf Rangnick, who will be replaced as manager by Erik ten Hag at the end of the season.
If the Dutchman is not as keen on Nkunku as Rangnick, Chelsea could be in pole position to sign him.
Thomas Tuchel is thought to be a big admirer of the 24-year-old, who moved to Leipzig for just £11.7m in 2019.
According to German publication Bild, it would cost around £64m to sign Nkunku this summer.
Leipzig will end the Bundesliga campaign against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, before facing Freiburg in the DFB-Pokal final on May 21.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
