European Powerhouses Battle to Lure Chelsea Star Christopher Nkunku as Man Utd Circle
Bayern Munich have renewed their interest in Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku, with sources suggesting the German giants are prepared to battle Manchester United for the French forward's services.
Expectations were elevated when Nkunku made his move from RB Leipzig to Chelsea during the 2023 summer window, however, following a series of injury setbacks at Stamford Bridge, he has struggled to secure a consistent spot in Enzo Maresca's first team.
The Bavarian club showed interest during the January window but withdrew when confronted with Chelsea's £65 million ($88.5 million) valuation, though The Athletic reports that their pursuit has been rekindled following a challenging summer transfer period for Vincent Kompany's squad.
Primary target Florian Wirtz has moved to Liverpool while Bayern's backup option, Athletic Club's Nico Williams, rejected their advances and eventually penned a fresh deal with his current club, compelling them to explore other possibilities.
Nkunku finds himself back on their radar, with the player also remaining on United's wishlist after the Manchester club initially explored a January move. Chelsea are insisting on a permanent sale.
There may be ample opportunity for Chelsea and Bayern to conduct negotiations this summer as the German club are simultaneously pursuing Blues defender Renato Veiga.
The 21-year-old reportedly sought an exit from Chelsea in January, merely six months after his arrival, due to concerns regarding his playing time. An impressive loan stint with Juventus has attracted attention from multiple clubs.
BILD reports that Chelsea might seek up to €35 million (£30.2 million, $41.1 million) for Veiga who, similar to Nkunku, is available for a permanent departure this summer despite initially impressing Maresca.
Recent UEFA sanctions are likely to compel Chelsea to offload players during the summer window, though selling peripheral players such as Nkunku and Veiga was already part of the Blues' strategy irrespective of any regulatory pressure to generate revenue.