“Last few weeks with us” – Manager confirms Chelsea will complete summer signing of 25-year-old

Christopher Nkunku is closing in on his summer transfer to Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

A deal to bring the 25-year-old to Stamford Bridge began last summer when the club assessed the France international prior to striking an agreement with RB Leipzig over a transfer.

Chelsea will pay in excess of £50 million to bring Nkunku to Stamford Bridge this summer, bolstering their attack which is set to be revamped ahead of next season.

Nkunku will come in under Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to become the club’s next permanent head coach as talks continue after the Chelsea hierarchy held a meeting in Los Angeles over the weekend.

READ MORE: When Mauricio Pochettino agreement could be finalised as Chelsea advance in head coach appointment search

Despite multiple injuries, Nkunku has netted 18 goals and provided five assists in his 30 appearances this season, and his latest came against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Nkunku’s goal was the only one of the game to secure a 1-0 win for Leipzig and cement their place in 5th place in the Bundesliga, keeping the pressure on third and fourth placed Union Berlin and SC Freiburg respectively.

His boss, Marco Rose, believes his match-winning goal will give him the confidence to finish the season positively after an injury-hit second half of the season.

But during Rose’s admission, the RB Leipzig confirmed Nkunku’s pending summer departure, which is yet to be official announced.

“That (winning goal) should give him a boost for the next few weeks – for his last few weeks with us,” admitted Rose, as quoted by GOAL.

Nkunku will join Malo Gusto at Stamford Bridge in the summer. The defender returned to Lyon for the remainder of the season after completing his move in January. Gusto had been struggling with a hamstring injury and was going to and from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground for his recovery.

“My rehabilitation was well managed,” said Gusto. ‘There have been regular exchanges between the two clubs for my injury. I was able to recover well, that was the most important thing. I had regular contact with the staff and they came to see me in London. They have always been behind me.

“I was also well supported by my family. I wanted to come to answer your questions because a lot has been said and a lot was wrong. I’m a kid at the club, I gave everything for this shirt and some thought I was delaying my return to stay at Chelsea. It moved me. People interpret as they want. I always wanted to play and give it my all. It wasn’t the most comfortable situation. I thought my absence would be shorter.”