Why Arsenal and Man Utd fans should be supporting Arminia this Saturday
FT Desk
- Updated: 11 May 2022 11:03 BST
- 3 min read
Fans of Arsenal and Manchester United might not normally have an interest in Arminia Bielefeld’s Bundesliga’s survival, but with transfer target Christopher Nkunku in the mix that will be a different story this weekend.
While Bielefeld are staring relegation in the face, their opponents on Saturday, RB Leipzig are hoping to secure Champions League qualification. Win, and Leipzig will finish in the all-important top four. Lose and Freiburg could leapfrog them into fourth with victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
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Arminia Bielefeld?!
Why does that matter to Arsenal and Man Utd fans? Well, it could be the difference between them signing Christopher Nkunku this summer and not. The Frenchman has bagged 34 goals and 20 assists in all competitions this term, but he might stay where he is if Leipzig are eating at European football’s top table.
Sport Bild were the first to report that: “Christopher Nkunku's contract extension with the Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig is linked to a sporting condition. According to information from the German Press Agency, the French national player will only extend his contract, which runs until June 30, 2024, by one year prematurely if the club qualifies for the Champions League in the current season.”
4️⃣6️⃣ goal involvements in 4️⃣2️⃣ games this season
Can Christopher Nkunku be Man Utd's saviour? 😇
By @karan_tejwani26— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) April 12, 2022
Nkunku is expected to fetch more than €50m in the current transfer market, which is beginning to open up as the negative impacts of the recent coronavirus pnademic begin to wane. At 24 and with his goal record, the recently capped France international would seem to be money well spent.
His price will only go up next season if he returns another impressive campaign whilst adding a year to his contract at the Red Bull Arena. And it is for that reason that Gunners and Red Devils the world over will be hoping that Bielefeld remain in the Bundesliga this weekend.
