Manchester United have made an enquiry about signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku in January.
That's according to French newspaper L'Equipe, who on Sunday reported that the Frenchman, who joined the Blues from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, has emerged as a surprise target for the Red Devils.
Nkunku is Chelsea's top scorer this season with nine goals in all competitions, however, according to L'Equipe, the 26-year-old is "unhappy" with his lack of Premier League game time.
He's started just one game in the top flight, that being against Manchester City on the opening day. Since, he's been limited to cameos off the bench, with manager Enzo Maresca preferring Nicolas Jackson up-top.
L'Equipe claim that Chelsea are open to selling Nkunku given the amount of attacking options they already have at their disposal, but would rather not sell him to a rival.
A number of other clubs are also understood to be interested in the France international, including his boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain. Football Insider reported last month that the Ligue 1 giants are monitoring his situation.
Nkunku himself was asked by Telefoot about the links with PSG, to which he replied: “PSG remains a big club, but there has not been one approach.”
Maresca on Nkunku:
Although he's struggled for minutes in the Premier League, Nkunku has been a nailed-on starter for Chelsea in their other competitions this term.
He's started all seven of the Blues' games in the Europa Conference League and EFL Cup, scoring eight goals.
Speaking after Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, a game in which Nkunku played just two minutes, Maresca offered hope that the former Leipzig forward – as well as others like Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk – could soon be playing for the Blues in the top flight.
“The ones that played tonight, probably in three weeks they are playing Conference, and the ones that are playing Conference, they can play in the Premier League," explained the Italian coach.
“Joao Felix can play in the Premier League. Nkunku can play Premier League. All of them can play Premier League," he said. “I always repeat the same thing. Just because they played today doesn't mean they’re going to play the next one. You have to compete, you have to perform in the right away."
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