It seems that Chelsea cranked out the first transfer of the summer of 2023 - they take the Bundesliga star for 60+ million
The transfer window in Europe is already closed, but the work on transfers does not stop. The journalist Nicolò Schira reported that Chelsea had agreed a contract with Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku until 2028, the information was confirmed by the authoritative David Ornstein from The Athletic. Londoners plan to activate a buyout option (more than 60 million euros) to sign Nkunku in the summer of 2023. The contract with RB is valid until 2026. It is important to clarify that insiders have not yet explained how exactly Chelsea managed to negotiate with a player who, according to FIFA rules, does not have the right to negotiate with other clubs (the ban is lifted for 6 months before contract expiration). It is possible that there is also a preliminary agreement between the clubs. Moreover, Christopher had even already passed part of the medical examination for Chelsea at the end of August, he came to Frankfurt for a cardiological examination. Christopher Nkunku's recent seasons have been extremely productive. In the 2021/22 season, the PSG graduate scored 33 goals passes in the Bundesliga (20 goals 13 assists), enchanted in European competition (7 goals in the Champions League and 4 more in the Europa League) and sparkled in the national cup (4 goals and 2 assists in 6 matches). The striker was named Kicker's Player of the Year last season. This season, Nkunku has kept pace with 6 goals in 8 Bundesliga games and another in the Cup. True, in two matches of European competitions he left the field without balls. Nkunku appears 1win-azerbaycan.com to be able to finish attacks. Analyze [the ability to finish attacks] need to be careful. Firstly, for the first time in his career, Nkunku regularly comes out in attack. Secondly, we take a segment less than a season. Thirdly, even playing a forward, Cristo gives much more volume in creation, and not in completion. Here are the key statistics. This season, Nkunku scores a lot more, improved his implementation (in the previous two years, xG exceeded the actual performance), improved the choice of position for shooting (he shoots from a shorter distance more often), while the total number of shots did not increase. A reasonable question is why did the tactical geek Nagelsmann, who worked with Nkunku for two seasons, not try him on offense? Moreover, Julian has a utilitarian approach to goals when Werner left for Chelsea after a season with 28 goals in the Bundesliga, the coach said that it was necessary to make up for the loss not of Timo, but of these 28 goals. The answer is banal: because Nkunku is not was ready. He himself admitted it, he felt weakness in the end, did not solve episodes, sometimes he was even afraid to hit (he suddenly overlooked a partner in a better position or overestimated the position for his hit). This season, it is obvious that Cristo is capable coolly turn chances into goals. And he definitely has the makings: he often scores after opening behind the defenders. A skill that small forwards really need. It is important to emphasize this: Nkunku, as a second striker, is not just a creator who, according to the scheme, occupies a very high position. This is also an attacker who knows how to wait for an opening pass, knows how to put the body when accelerating to be the first to indicate possession, knows how to attack the goalkeeper in various ways: with a stitching blow, a stroke, a parachute (not just to just pierce). The arrival Tedesco in terms of progress Nkunku-finisher is a top hit. The coach was open to experiment, while in his system this is not some kind of bold move, but a completely rational decision. Leipzig, playing with a calm, sometimes sterile roll, needed an agile striker who would turn a quiet possession into a fearsome trap. And Nkunku can do it in different ways: either to go down closer to the midfield, becoming the main creation option, or to open up behind the backs of the defenders, offering himself as a striker. Command engines work better too. Leipzig at Tedesco likes to get out of defense with a long throw on a pillar (Andre Silva or Yussuf Poulsen). Nkunku is a great option for a discount, he can open between the lines and immediately give an sharpening pass in response, or move the ball closer to the box on possession. And without the ball, everything is also fine Nkunku is fifth in the Bundesliga in pressing actions in the final third of the field (180).
Nkunku re-emerged with Domenico Tedesco as a second forward
