‘I’m told’: Fabrizio Romano says player ‘with no weaknesses’ definitely wants to join Chelsea

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Fabrizio Romano has claimed in his CaughtOffside column that Christopher Nkunku is keen to join Chelsea next year.

Reports broke yesterday that Chelsea have an agreement with RB Leipzig to sign the highly-rated Frenchman next summer, with them expected to pay more than the release clause currently in his contract.

The clause, believed to be about £52m, was inserted in order for Leipzig to keep him for this season, with many of Europe’s top clubs interested in bringing him in.

Chelsea were one of those clubs pushing to sign the 24-year-old over the summer, with Todd Boehly particularly keen for the deal to come to fruition.

While they didn’t come away with the signing, they were reportedly able to stage a medical for the player, 12 months before they intended to actually sign him.

Romano has claimed that while details still need to be finalised between the two clubs, everything on the player side is positive and Nkunku wants to join.

Nkunku wants Chelsea

He said:  “I’m told that Chelsea are on the way to reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig for different structure of the deal; and not triggering the release clause in June. This has always been the plan.

“It’s all good on player’s side, contract and medical.”

With the Blues looking for a long-term replacement for the striker role, they may have struck the perfect chord if they can successfully jump the gun and beat their rivals to Nkunku.

While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first goal of the season last weekend, he is not being looked at as an option for more than a season or two.

The Frenchman meanwhile can be an option for a number of seasons, with him ‘having no weaknesses’ according to former Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch.

Nkunku’s versatility can also mean he can feature out wide for the Blues, whilst also potentially dropping into midfield in a style similar to how he did earlier in his career.