Chelsea ‘set to sign’ Bundesliga star for ‘close to €70m’ after they close deal ‘on their terms’ | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Chelsea are now ‘set to sign’ France attacker Christopher Nkunku from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for ‘close to €70m’.

The former PSG forward has kicked on over the past couple of seasons as he has shone for German outfit RB Leipzig.

The French giants will be regretting letting Nkunku in hindsight as he has blossomed in an RB Leipzig shirt.

Nkunku is capable of playing on either wing but he has often been used as a second striker this term.

He has been in the thick of the action for Leipzig this campaign as he has grabbed 17 goals and four assists in 23 appearances across all competitions.

The 25-year-old was expected to be a big player for France at the World Cup, but a knee injury ruled him out of the tournament.

Nkunku has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent years and last month it was claimed that he has already completed a medical ahead of a move to Chelsea.

Now Romano has confirmed that the transfer is edging closer to being completed as a “full agreement is almost there”.

The transfer guru has also revealed that Nkunku will cost €70m and he has explained how Chelsea have managed to make sure this transfer is being done ‘on their terms’.

‘Now we can say they are set to sign Nkunku, they are closing in on the deal for the summer 2023,” Romano wrote for Caught Offside.

‘It’s all agreed on the player’s side, and has been for a long time. And also there is a verbal agreement between Chelsea and RB Leipzig. The relationship between these clubs is very good, and a full agreement is almost there.

‘I’m told Chelsea will pay more than €60m for Nkunku. As I said before, there were two ways for them to agree this deal – they could trigger his release clause, or they could find a different kind of structure to ensure they remain in the strongest position, and that’s what’s happened.

‘I’m told the fee will be close to €70m and it gives them the guarantee that there is an agreement in place and no other club can hijack the deal.

‘This also allows Chelsea to pay on their own terms, rather than giving Leipzig the full fee in one go. Now we just have to wait for the contracts to be signed, and then it’ll be ‘Here we go!’

‘It’s an exciting signing, approved by the board and by the manager Graham Potter. Chelsea will also be bringing in new board members as part of this big rebuilding job at Stamford Bridge.’