RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku has reportedly agreed to a long-term contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2028.
The France international was believed to have been wanted by several top European clubs after registering a staggering 35 goals and 20 assists in 52 games for Die Roten Bullen in the 2021-22 season.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were all tipped to do battle for Nkunku's signature, but the 25-year-old committed his future to Leipzig with a new contract until the summer of 2026.
Nkunku has kept up his strong goalscoring form in the 2022-23 campaign, hitting 17 goals and four assists in 23 outings, and it was reported earlier in the autumn that he had already undergone a medical with Chelsea ahead of a move in 2023.
Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are among the teams supposedly aiming to hijack a move for the Frenchman, but Chelsea are said to be confident of getting a deal over the line.
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According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Nkunku's move to Stamford Bridge is a "done deal", and the former Paris Saint-Germain starlet will complete his switch to the Premier League in July.
Schira adds that Nkunku's contract with Graham Potter's side will run until the end of the 2027-28 season, and Leipzig will receive a fee of €70m (£60m).
Nkunku was called up to the France squad for the 2022 World Cup, but he sustained a serious knee injury in training before Les Bleus flew out to Qatar and was subsequently ruled out of the tournament.
The attacker is likely to remain sidelined for at least another four weeks and potentially as many as six, although Leipzig have not put a timeframe on his recovery, and his injury is not expected to scupper his move to West London.
Nkunku represented PSG between 2010 and 2019 before leaving for Leipzig, where he has recorded 64 goals and 51 assists in 159 matches, and he won the DFB-Pokal with Die Roten Bullen last term.
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Nkunku is not the only Leipzig player who could swap Germany for Chelsea in 2023, as the Blues are said to be leading the race for Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol.
The 20-year-old has impressed for the Chequered Ones at the 2022 World Cup and recently added fuel to the fire surrounding his future by refusing to rule out a future move to Stamford Bridge.
"About me and Chelsea? I don't know. You know what happened in the last few months. To be honest, I have no idea," Gvardiol told The Athletic.
"My agent is taking care of this and we will see. Right now, I'm happy in Leipzig. I don't know, we will see - you never know. You know the stories and these things, but all I can say is that I'm happy in Leipzig and right now I'm going to stay there and perform for them.
"It's a big club of course and, who knows, maybe one day I will be there. It's really nice to see things like this, especially because there is [Mateo] Kovacic, so you never know. I talk with him."
However, Gvardiol has also talked up the prospect of a switch to Real Madrid, while Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur are also monitoring his progress.
Ben Knapton
