What would Nkunku bring to Real Madrid?

Martin Macdonald

• 4 Oct 2021 17:04 BST
• 4 min read

Real Madrid have been offered the opportunity to sign RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku in the summer of 2022.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, agent Pini Zahavi has contacted Los Blancos to try and engineer a transfer for the in-form midfielder, who has developed into a key player for RB Leipzig.

Nkunku is a product of the PSG academy and actually made 28 starts for the Parisiens over a four-year spell before eventually signing for RB Leipzig for a fee of €15m.

He excelled under the tutelage of previous head coach Julian Nagelsmann and contributed to 18 goals in the 2019/20 Bundesliga season, scoring five himself and recording an impressive 13 assists in 21 starts.

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The next season, he scored six and assisted another six, while in 2021/22 he has hit the ground running with a superb contribution of nine goals and two assists in just 10 starts in all competitions.

Nkunku's performances over the past couple of campaigns until now have put him on the radar of some of Europe's top clubs, including Real Madrid.

Next summer, the capital club will put most of their efforts into signing Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, but they could be interested in Nkunku also as he he able to play in a variety of positions.

Though he is mostly deployed down the left-wing as an attacking midfielder, he can play in any of the roles behind the striker, at centre-forward himself, or even in a deeper position in midfield.

Should the move happen, it could indeed spell the end for Eden Hazard at Madrid as Vinicius Junior has emerged as the top pick for the role on the left.

As well as his versatility, Nkunku's best attributes are probably his athleticism and his ball-carrying abilities.

He is superb at covering ground which makes him ideal for a pressing system.

Who else is interested in Nkunku?

Arsenal were interested in signing Nkunku over the summer.

Mikel Arteta is reportedly a huge fan of the 23-year-old, who had interested the Gunners in the summer before they turned their attentions to Martin Odegaard and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Even though Arsenal spent big in the transfer market, Nkunku is still wanted at the Emirates, though it is unclear what position Arteta would deploy him in as at the moment they have Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in addition in Odegaard in attacking midfield.

A year ago, Manchester City were rumoured to be interested also, though it seems unlikely they would spend money on another attacking midfielder at the moment after spending £100 million on Jack Grealish.

As with any player who excels in Germany, Nkunku has also naturally been linked to Bayern Munich.

The Bavarian giants recently took Dayot Upamecano and head coach Nagelsmann from their Bundesliga rivals.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Nkunku would cost at least £40m (€47m).

FootballTransfers currently values the player at €38.1m.