Chelsea drop their asking price for Christopher Nkunku amid Bayern Munich interest | OneFootball

Chelsea have lowered their asking price for Christopher Nkunku, according to The Athletic.

The Blues are keen to get the Frenchman off their books to make room for additional signings, opening the door for potential suitors across Europe.

Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in a £52 million deal back in 2023, but he has struggled to nail down an important role in Enzo Maresca’s squad.

A mix of injuries and serious competition has limited his impact. Nkunku has shown flashes of his brilliance, but not enough to convince Maresca to build around him.

Nkunku was one of the stars of Chelsea’s remarkable run to the Club World Cup title in the United States.

He scored in Chelsea’s dramatic 4-1 win over Benfica in the round of 16 and impressed with a few other performances in his six games at the tournament.

But if anything, it was more to show potential suitors that he still has something to offer rather than change Maresca’s mind about his situation at the club.

Chelsea valued the French international at £65m back in January.

However, according to The Athletic, the Blues are now prepared to accept offers in the region of £43.3m (€50m), well below the £52m they paid for him just two years ago.

That decision shows how keen Chelsea are to get Nkunku off their bloated squad and balance the books after their heavy spending over the course of the summer.

Interest in Nkunku is growing, with Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, monitoring his situation. Bayern Munich have also been mentioned as a possible destination, alongside clubs in Serie A and the Bundesliga.

Nkunku’s potential exit will free up space in the squad for Chelsea to add Xavi Simons from Leipzig.

The Blues have enquired about the Netherlands international and have been given the green light to proceed with negotiations.

But any move for Simons will require Chelsea to sell, and Nkunku is one of the big names on their chopping block this summer.