Chelsea’s star forward Christopher Nkunku appears to be heading towards an exit, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich moving swiftly to secure his signature.
The 27-year-old French international, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig for £52 million in the summer of 2023, has struggled with injuries during his first campaign at Stamford Bridge. While his 14 appearances across all competitions left much to be desired, Nkunku has since returned to fitness and hit form this season, scoring 13 goals in 28 matches.
Despite his impressive individual performances, Nkunku has struggled to secure consistent starts in the Premier League. The forward has primarily featured in the Europa Conference League and the FA Cup, making it clear that he believes his talents are being underutilized at Chelsea. This frustration, coupled with his desire to play regularly at the highest level, has now set the stage for a potential winter exit.
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich have already reached a ‘full verbal agreement’ with Nkunku over a long-term contract. Both the player and the club are eager to see the transfer finalized immediately. Bayern director of sport Max Eberl has identified Nkunku as his top transfer target, eyeing a permanent deal rather than a temporary loan move.
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Chelsea, on the other hand, could look to include Mathys Tel in the deal as part of the negotiations. The 19-year-old forward has struggled for game time at Bayern, primarily coming off the bench behind established stars like Harry Kane and Leroy Sane. Chelsea are big admirers of Tel and see him as a promising talent, making him an enticing option to offset the loss of Nkunku. However, it remains to be seen if Bayern would only send Tel or if Chelsea would receive additional financial compensation.
Should the deal materialize, it would undoubtedly be a blow for Chelsea, as Nkunku is seen as one of the top-class goalscorers at the club. Despite this, the Blues are aware that the forward’s talents are being underutilized, and losing him could pave the way for more game time for other attacking options.
BVB Interest for Veiga
In other transfer news, Chelsea are also keeping an eye on Borussia Dortmund’s interest in defender Renato Veiga. The 21-year-old, capable of playing as both a left-back and centre-half, has been promised consistent game time in his preferred position of centre-back by Dortmund, making the move increasingly appealing.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are considering recalling Andrey Santos from his loan spell at Strasbourg. Manager Enzo Maresca is keen to bolster his midfield options with someone who can effectively operate in both the No 6 and No 8 roles. Bringing Santos back to Stamford Bridge would be a more straightforward solution compared to negotiating with Manchester United over Kobbie Mainoo’s contract.
Chelsea’s transfer dealings this January are shaping up to be crucial as the club looks to strengthen its squad for the remainder of the season. The loss of Nkunku, if confirmed, will likely send ripples through the club, while the potential addition of Tel and other moves could help inject new energy into Maresca’s plans. As the January window progresses, Chelsea fans will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold.
