RB Leipzig make transfer admission over Chelsea target Christopher Nkunku
By Tom Gott
New RB Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl has confessed that 'something is looming' with Christopher Nkunku's future.
Chelsea invited Nkunku for a medical during the summer and have spent the first half of this season in talks with Leipzig over a double deal for both the French forward and centre-back partner Josko Gvardiol.
90min revealed in November that an agreement for Nkunku had effectively been wrapped up and, after the 25-year-old was ruled out of the World Cup through injury, it was eventually accepted that Nkunku's move to Chelsea would come in the summer, rather than in January.
The transfer is effectively complete but has yet to be confirmed by either side, although Eberl did suggest that an update on Nkunku's future can be expected soon.
"With Christo, I can’t confirm anything yet," he told a press conference.
"There is a lot of interest and a lot of talk with us. Accordingly, something is looming."
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90min understands that Chelsea are hoping to announce Nkunku's signing in January, having agreed to pay in excess of his £56m release clause - which only becomes active in the summer - to allow them to spread the payment out over a few years.
The focus is now on trying to tie up a deal for Gvardiol, who has been one of the standout performers at the World Cup and booked his place in the semi-final as, alongside Blues midfielder Mateo Kovacic, he helped Croatia stun Brazil on Friday.
Chelsea are hopeful that they will be able to get a deal for Gvardiol over the line as well, although there is significant interest in the centre-back from across Europe which Chelsea must navigate if they are to pull off this huge double deal.