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Man Utd could make official bid for Christopher Nkunku next week

Manchester United could make an official offer for RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku next week, Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims.

Nkunku has been constantly linked with the Red Devils over the past few months. Ralf Rangnick is said to have recommended his name to the club’s hierarchy.

It is now reported that there has been ‘good contact’ between United and the player’s management and an official offer could arrive in Leipzig next week.

The United board rate Nkunku as a ‘very good’ player, but Leipzig have no plans of selling him for now. They plan to keep him for at least one more season.

Our view:

Nkunku had an extraordinary season for Leipzig last term, bagging 35 goals and 20 assists from 51 appearances. His performances were pivotal to their fourth-place finish in Bundesliga.

The Frenchman also scored a late equaliser in normal time during the DFB-Pokal Cup final against Freiburg. Leipzig eventually won on penalties to lift their first major silverware.

With his market value now at the highest, Leipzig can command a big price this summer, but sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff has continuously insisted he won’t be leaving.

Nkunku’s current deal expires in the summer of 2024, but there are suggestions that Leipzig are prepared to include a buy-out clause to lure him into signing a new deal.

Hence, United face a difficult challenge on their hands to persuade Leipzig. Nkunku is valued at £58.5 million by Transfermarkt, but it may require a nine-figure sum to test their resolve.

That won’t be the only stumbling block for United. They don’t have Champions League football next term. A club like Chelsea may have the edge, having qualified for the elite European competition.

Meanwhile, United need to be wary of making a huge outlay on Nkunku after the experience with Sancho, who joined from Dortmund last summer on the back of 76 goal contributions over two seasons.

Having arrived for £76m, he was expected to set the stage alight. Nothing of that sort happened with just five goals and three assists from 38 games. Hopefully, he will come good under manager Erik ten Hag.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com