Christopher Nkunku could finally become a Manchester United player this summer, as the Red Devils eye a deal for the Chelsea striker – but it’s not the first time he has been linked with a move to Old Trafford
Christopher Nkunku is linked with Manchester United in a deal that could be two years in the making. The 27-year-old initially found himself on United’s radar back in 2022, when then boss Ralf Rangnick eyed a move for the at the time RB Leipzig striker.
Rangnick was the man responsible for taking Nkunku to the Bundesliga from Paris Saint-Germain three years earlier, signing him on a five-year contract for a reported £11million in a move which proved incredibly fruitful. While Rangnick left his post with Die Roten Bullen in July 2019, Nkunku remained at the Red Bull Arena until 2023, scoring 70 goals and providing 55 assists in 172 appearances.
Rangnick ultimately went on to find his footing as the interim manager of Manchester United in 2021, following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. And the very next year, the 66-year-old showed an interest in reuniting with Nkunku, while the French talent reportedly reciprocated the sentiment.
The issue at the time was that Manchester United had no scouting reports on Nkunku at the time, and as a result, he wasn’t on the club’s shortlist. Given Rangnick’s relationship with the star, he was reportedly at a loss for words upon hearing of the situation, and was insistent that scouts watched him closely during Leipzig’s clash with VfL Bochum in February 2022.
Given United’s resources at the time, it was thought that the club would have been able to meet Leipzig’s £62m valuation of the star – as well as treble his £30,000 per-week wage with a move to Old Trafford. However, a deal ultimately failed to ever come to fruition, with Rangnick replaced by Erik ten Hag in May 2022.
The Dutchman elected to spend £82m on Antony, £70m on Casemiro and £57m on Lisandro Martinez during the summer transfer window instead of strengthening his strikeforce, while Nkunku remained in Germany for another year. In 2023, Nkunku finally got his long-awaited move to the Premier League, albeit, making his way to Stamford Bridge rather than Old Trafford, where he has remained ever since.
Chelsea forked out a reported £52m to acquire Nkunku on a six-year deal, but the forward – who can also operate as an attacking midfielder – has failed to live up to his price tag thus far. In 2025, Nkunku has managed just 17 goals in 57 games for the Blues due to injury and inconsistency
And as a result, Enzo Maresca hasn’t ruled out him leaving his post this summer if the price is right. Now, it is said that Chelsea and Manchester United are now looking at the possibility of a swap deal between Nkunku and Alejandro Garnacho, who is seemingly unsettled in the north west.
Garnacho looks all but destined to leave United this summer after a fallout with Ruben Amorim, who has recently signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and is looking to secure the services of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. The Argentine found himself benched for the Red Devils’ Europa League final loss to Tottenham last month, and was vocal about Amorim’s decision in the aftermath while claiming his side had a «s***» season.
Garnacho also butted heads with Amorim earlier in the season, after he was accused of ignoring his boss while receiving instructions during a Europa League game with Viktoria Plzen. The 20-year-old has reportedly been told that he has «no future» with United, and looks increasingly likely to make his way to the capital given that he was linked with the Blues in January.
Nkunku, meanwhile, may struggle to earn minutes at his current club in 2025/26 given that Chelsea have just spent £30m on new striker Liam Delap, and are eager to acquire Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund in the coming weeks. It is claimed that Amorim is willing to give Nkunku a chance at leading the line at Old Trafford, given that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to make a notable difference since arriving in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
And while a swap deal for the two stars may well come to fruition, the Telegraph reports that separate transfers are more likely – though neither club has held talks on either transfer just yet.
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