🚨 Chelsea are pushing to finalise a pre-contract agreement with Christopher Nkunku and are willing to sign the RB Leipzig forward next summer for more than his £52.8m release clause.
🚨 Chelsea plan to pay more than Christopher Nkunku's €60m release clause to stop suitors joining race next year. When he signed new deal, release clause negotiated 'low' (below market value) to ensure he could still leave despite extending, Nkunku's request.
(@JacobsBen)
In essence, Nkunku wants to focus on the World Cup and do a full season with Leipzig. It's smart of Chelsea to offer above the release clause (and still below market value) now before his price goes up higher.
(@BILD)
After Leipzig's ban on changing for this season, the French star would like to change next year. At Chelsea he plays in one of the top 10 clubs in the world - and in what is considered by many to be the strongest league in the world.
🚨 Chelsea will try to complete a double raid on RB Leipzig by bringing defender Josko Gvardiol to Stamford Bridge alongside striker Christope Nkunku, who has signed a pre-contract agreement.
(@Matt_Law_DT)
Chelsea are set to pay slightly more than Nkunku’s £52.58 million release clause to ensure they sign him next summer, having already put the 24-year-old through medical examinations.
(@NizaarKinsella)
The 24-year-old - who has eight goals and one assist in 12 games this season - has already undertaken medical tests with the Blues, who are growing in confidence of completing a deal for the France international after a series of meetings between the two clubs.
🚨 That work on a new-look Chelsea is expected to continue with the appointment of a sporting director, given Boehly is occupying the role on an interim basis alongside his responsibilities as co-owner and chairman.
(@David_Ornstein & @TheAthleticUK)
Following unsuccessful attempts to install former Liverpool executive Michael Edwards and later, Christoph Freund of Red Bull Salzburg, numerous other candidates have been linked to the position.
BREAKING 🚨 Christopher Nkunku understood to have signed pre-contract agreement to join Chelsea next summer + #CFC have committed to pay above €60m release clause to secure 24yo now.
(@TheAthleticUK & @David_Ornstein)
News emerged last week that Chelsea have moved for Christopher Nkunku, with the RB Leipzig player undergoing medical tests prior to a proposed move for the 2023-24 season.
🚨 Christopher Nkunku. Despite denials from certain parties, still told a medical did take place in late August and that Nkunku (without signing anything) has verbally indicated he is happy with Chelsea’s terms. No agreement yet between Chelsea & Leipzig.
(@JacobsBen)
Chelsea do have the option of triggering the £58.2m release clause which is active next summer. When Nkunku signed his new contract over the summer it was because he didn’t want a change before the World Cup.
🚨 Chelsea's president of business Tom Glick initially dismissed a complaint about inappropriate text messages sent by the club's commercial director to a female agent as "not relevant" to his job.
(@LauraScott__ & @BBCSport)
BBC Sport has learned that two weeks after the messages were first brought to the attention of Glick by agent Catalina Kim, he told her the issue was "not interesting" and he had "set it aside".
