The Chelsea striker wants to leave Stamford Bridge after growing frustrated under Enzo Maresca, and he is surplus to requirements following the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this summer.
Christopher Nkunku is not part of Chelsea’s plans(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United have been quoted £35m to sign Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku.
United have got misfit Nkunku on their shortlist of striker targets this summer with Chelsea braced to take a big hit on the player they signed for £52m just two years ago.
Nkunku, 27, is surplus to requirements at Chelsea after they bought Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer for a combined £90m and they are set to complete a £55m deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens as they have carried on spending big.
But they will also have to offload players this summer after Chelsea were clobbered with a £78.5m fine by UEFA for breaching spending rules. A big chunk of the fine – £51m – is suspended but Chelsea still have to comply and are now braced for a big clear out this summer.
France international Nkunku is on United’s radar and is an option although they have also looked at Aston Villa ’s Ollie Watkins as another target.
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United want to offload Alejandro Garnacho who has been a Chelsea target in the past but clearly they may be hamstrung by finances and needing to fall into line with UEFA’s punishment.
That could have opened the door to a potential swap but Chelsea may have to look at more straight sales and reducing their squad numbers.
They have a wealth of forwards with Nicolas Jackson also on their books and his disciplinary record – having been sent off at the end of the Premier League season and in the Club World Cup – has made him something of a liability.
Brazil star Pedro can play as a centre striker or wide and his arrival has only increased the likelihood of Nkunku’s departure.
While the ex-RB Leipzig striker may not be top of United’s list, he may be a cut-price option especially as they are looking to complete a deal for Bryan Mbeumo having already signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
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