Nkunku wanted by SIX clubs as Arsenal face major competition

Cameron Smith

Updated: 20 May 2025 06:45 CDT
4 min read

Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is reportedly being pursued by six clubs across Europe as he edges closer to a Stamford Bridge exit.

The France international joined Chelsea for €60 million from RB Leipzig in 2023, but his time in west London has been severely impacted by injuries and he is now expected to leave the club during the upcoming summer transfer window.

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Current ETV

Christopher Nkunku

F (C), M (L)

Chelsea

Christopher Nkunku

F (C), M (L)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€46.5M - €56.8M

Nkunku has only scored 17 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions since his move to Stamford Bridge, while he has started just 11 Premier League games during an injury-hit spell with Blues.

The Frenchman is pushing to leave Chelsea this summer and Enzo Maresca’s side are eager to finalise a sale due to his lack of game time so far this campaign.

The 27-year-old has failed to usurp Cole Palmer or Nicolas Jackson in Chelsea’s preferred starting XI this term and the two-time Champions League winners are determined to offload him amid their pursuit of a new striker.

Despite Nkunku’s struggles for fitness and form over the past two years, the Frenchman is wanted by six major clubs across Europe, according to The Sun.

The English publication claims that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham United are all interested in purchasing Nkunku this summer, while Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have registered their desire to sign him too.

It’s understood that Chelsea would prefer to sell Nkunku abroad, and a move to Atletico Madrid could reportedly be on the cards if Julian Alvarez departs the Wanda Metropolitano after just one year, amid significant interest from Liverpool.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are said to view him as a player capable of bolstering their attack and Ruben Amorim has identified him as a “superb” option for his rebuild at Man Utd.

Who will Chelsea sign to replace Christopher Nkunku?

With Nkunku set to leave Chelsea, the Blues will reinvest his transfer fee into a new number nine capable of challenging the aforementioned Jackson for a starting berth at Stamford Bridge.

FootballTransfers understands that Victor Osimhen remains a priority target for Maresca’s side ahead of the summer window, while Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike are also under consideration by the hierarchy in west London.

Nkunku still has four years remaining on his current contract at Chelsea and his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €51.7m, meaning the Blues will hope to recoup the vast majority of the €60m fee they paid to sign him back in 2023.

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