Chelsea will target more attackers next summer and they may face serious competition from Arsenal in doing so.
Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig applaud fans after the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and 1....CONTINUE READING
Some of Chelsea’s transfer targets will not change just because Thomas Tuchel is no longer at the club. Proof of this was the decision to pursue Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang despite the reservations over Tuchel’s long-term future.
As that one played out, Tuchel lasted less than 10 days after Aubameyang was signed and the Gabon striker has now been left to fight for a place under Graham Potter which is far from a formality.
Potter will no doubt bring his own targets, some may come from Brighton too, he may also want to use the expansive resources now available to him at SW6.
This isn’t going to stop the so-called ‘club targets’ from being watched though. Even with the entire footballing structure at the club ripped out and currently undergoing major surgery, Todd Boehly has his team of American analysts working on transfer business with data-led methods.
These same analysts will have been key to giving a green light on Aubameyang as well as deciding how much Tuchel’s admiration of Anthony Gordon was worth – another player that it would not be a surprise to see more interest in.
Without a director of football or advisors in place transfers do become complex – on top of the convoluted business they already are – and that can create issues.
One player that was a target this summer was RB Leipzig’s Christoph Nkunku. The Frenchman had previously played under Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain though he left before being given a true chance under the German manager.
Since leaving, Nkunku has gone on to become one of the hottest attackers in Bundesliga and football.london understands he has been watched extensively by Chelsea for a while.
Even with influential directors Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia no longer in place, Scott McLachlan – head of international scouting – has also left the club too, but that doesn’t mean the interest dies out. A good player is a good player, after all.
Interestingly enough, Leipzig president Oliver Mintzlaff has already insisted that Nkunku would remain at the club but then went on to say that nobody is “unsellable” in football.
Speaking to Sky Sport, as per Get French Football News, Mintzlaff said: “I’ve said it many times, and I’m happy to say it again: Nkunku will still be our player in the coming season.”
Mintzlaff is a target for Chelsea’s vacant football department in some shape or form and any contact with him could also impact the Nkunku stance if he was to be the centre of a bid in the coming windows.
Nkunku only made his France debut in March 2022 after a stellar season – 55 goal contributions in 52 games – and is likely to be a strong contender for their World Cup squad. Should he go to Qatar and perform, it is not unreasonable to expect some January interest in him either.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano: “There will be many clubs in the race for Nkunku next summer, including Chelsea as they’ve always been interested and attentive to his growth.”
Writing in his CaughtOffside column, Romano added, “Nothing has been decided yet on the next step, it will be in 2023 – Nkunku will be one of the big names next summer.
“They [Chelsea] signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on deadline day. So honestly I think it could be about the wingers more than central strikers in January, as they also have Armando Broja, an excellent young player.”
With Chelsea’s attackers currently stuck in a revolving door, constantly waiting to leave but largely unable to – despite Timo Werner joining Nkunku at Leipzig this summer for a cut-price £25million – any incomings like the 24-year-old would likely depend on outgoings first.
Should Chelsea go in for the attacker who already has four goals in seven matches this season then they may well come face-to-face with Arsenal.
The Gunners were reportedly willing to pay the £100million valuation put on Nkunku this summer but he signed a fresh deal which keeps him under contract in Germany until 2026.
Reports vary on his current price with some stating there is a release clause from 2023 worth £56million, but others say there is no such deal.
With Barcelona and PSG also expected to be sniffing around for Nkunku in the coming windows there will be strong competition for the versatile forward.
