Manchester United have reportedly commenced preliminary negotiations with Chelsea in a bid to secure the services of their French midfielder, Christopher Nkunku, as the club make strides towards a £22m deal. Following a challenging season, the Red Devils are determined to bolster their attacking options with at least two additional offensive signings.
Having already acquired Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5m, manager Ruben Amorim is keen to revitalise his squad. The need for fresh attacking flair comes after what has been described as the darkest campaign in recent memory for the club.
Nkunku, who cost Chelsea £52m when they signed him from RB Leipzig following his impressive record of 70 goals and 55 assists in 170 games in the Bundesliga, has struggled to replicate such form in the Premier League. The player has been plagued by injuries during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are reportedly willing to let Nkunku leave, with a valuation set at £34m (€40m). French outlet L’Equipe reports that Manchester United have reignited interest in Nkunku, having previously approached Chelsea in January, and have recently reached out to his representatives to discuss the potential transfer, though no formal offer has been made yet.
Amorim’s transfer strategy also includes Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, for whom an initial offer of £45m plus £10m in add-ons was declined by the Bees. The interest in Nkunku aligns with this strategy of reinforcing the attack.
Nkunku’s situation has attracted attention from multiple clubs eager to capitalise on Chelsea’s willingness to sell, but no definitive negotiations are underway as of yet. Meanwhile, United are preparing for a significant squad overhaul.
Several key figures, including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony, have been excluded from the club’s upcoming US tour, indicating possible departures. Rashford appears set on a transfer to Barcelona, while Sancho is linked with a move to Juventus, potentially as part of a swap deal involving Dusan Vlahovic.
Alejandro Garnacho is reportedly on the radar of SSC Napoli, and Antony aims to remain at Real Betis following his fruitful loan spell there. In contrast, Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund are attracting offers from Serie A.
Elsewhere, Juventus are said to be negotiating favourable terms with United for Sancho, with a possible swap involving Vlahovic being explored. Considerations are also being given to alternative striker options such as Viktor Gyokeres and Douglas Luiz should the negotiations with Vlahovic falter.
Additionally, a Turkish source reports that Jadon Sancho could align with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, as the club has seen “serious progress” in talks, aiming to finalise this move during the current window. This comes after Mourinho’s endorsement of the transfer since it was first mooted in May.
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