Attacking reinforcements are the last thing Liverpool need right now, or they will in the future. The Reds are currently short on options in the midfield, having bought just one player in that position in Thiago Alcantara in the last four-and-a-half-years. However, according to The Telegraph’s Sam Wallace, the Reds passed on an enticing opportunity to acquire the services of RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku.
The France forward was one of the hottest properties across Europe after his stunning displays last season for the Bundesliga outfit. Moreover, he picked-off from where he left last season, continuing his brilliant performances in this 22/23 campaign. With a number of clubs circling around him to acquire his services, Chelsea triumphed above all by signing a pre-contract with the 25-year-old in October last year.
Liverpool duo rejected the chance to sign Nkunku
Liverpool are currently stacked in their options up front, in the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and now the newly acquired Cody Gakpo. Although there was a need for new attacker in the summer after Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich, the Reds quickly spent a whopping €100m to sign Nunez from Benfica, making him a club record acquisition.
As a result, Wallace claims the Merseyside outfit closed the door on a potential deal for Nkunku, who too was ready to make his next move in the summer. The striker had racked up a staggering 35 goals and 20 assists in 52 appearances for Leipzig in the 21/22 season and hence saw his market value rocket sky-high. And it were Liverpool, who had the golden chance to get their hands on him, but manager Jurgen Klopp and his deputy Pep Lijnders rejected the lure as Wallace explains in his column for The Telegraph:
“Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Christopher Nkunku in the summer but Klopp and Lijnders declined. The France international’s positional flexibility meant he would have been a long-term replacement for Firmino and competition for Mohamed Salah and Díaz in the wide positions.
“By the time Liverpool went into this new year injury crisis, Chelsea had already struck an agreement with Nkunku, and his club RB Leipzig, for the summer. This is the kind of bad luck that can affect any club. The strength of Liverpool in recent years is that they have so rarely put a foot wrong.”
Just when Liverpool actually needed a new attacker to fill the void created by the long term absences of Diaz and Jota, who are still out and are not expected before March-April, Chelsea made in a swoop in for Nkunku. The Blues agreed a £52m deal for the striker on a long-term contract to join them for the 2023/24 season. The Frenchman had a £52m release clause in his contract with Leipzig which however kicked in from the next season.
Chelsea as a result agreed to pay in the excess of the same amount as his release clause to avoid any competition from other clubs. Nkunku has already completed his medical as well with the West London outfit and will arrive as a readymade player at Stamford Bridge next season with all formalities done and dusted. With his blistering form in full throttle, Nkunku has amassed 17 goals and 4 assists for Leipzig in 23 games in all competitions.