RB Leipzig’s new sporting director Max Eberl has suggested Christopher Nkunku is edging towards a move away from the club amid rumours he has already agreed a deal with Chelsea.
It was reported earlier this season that Nkunku had verbally agreed personal terms with the west London club over a big-money switch next summer.
The 25-year-old’s latest contract with Leipzig is believed to have included a release clause that becomes active at the end of the season, when a host of European giants would be queuing up to sign him.
But Chelsea want to avoid a bidding war and are prepared to pay in excess of the release clause now, with suggestions that they have already reached an agreement over a fee in the region of £52.5million.
Leipzig have repeatedly played down the rumours but Eberl – who held his first press conference since taking over as sporting director on Friday – has hinted that Nkunku’s departure is already virtually assured.
Asked about the Frenchman, he told reporters: ‘With Christo, I can’t confirm anything yet. But there is a lot of interest and a lot of talk with us. Accordingly, something is looming.’
Eberl also appeared to concede defeat in Leipzig’s attempts to keep Konrad Laimer at the club, with the midfielder expected to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer.
‘I know that the probability [of Laimer staying] is very, very, very low,’ Eberl continued.
‘But maybe there is an emotional factor. He hasn’t made a decision yet, as I understand it.’
Nkunku has been one of the Bundesliga’s outstanding players over the past few seasons and has netted 12 goals in 15 league appearances this season – though his hopes of starring at the World Cup were thwarted when he picked up an injury on the eve of the tournament.
Leipzig confirmed that he ‘tore the LCL in his left knee’ and will be sidelined for some time, with the injury potentially scuppering Chelsea’s deal.
Nkunku is believed to have undergone a medical in Frankfurt in October but that would need to be re-done following his latest injury.
In a further blow to Chelsea’s hopes of landing the former PSG man, Liverpool are reportedly keen to try and hijack the deal and scouted the Frenchman extensively before the Bundesliga season went on hiatus for the start of the World Cup.
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