How Chelsea will line up with Nkunku

Stuart Telford

• 20 Jun 2023 11:28 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea have completed the €60 million signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. How will the Blues line up with the France attacker in their ranks?

Nkunku becomes the first major signing of Mauricio Pochettino's reign, although the deal was first negotiated months before the Argentine succeeded interim Frank Lampard as manager.

He is a player Pochettino will be delighted to coach, however, the versatile attacker having racked up 70 goals and 56 assists in his 172 games with Leipzig - stunning numbers for a player once used as a wing-back by Julian Nagelsmann.

READ: What Chelsea will get from 'world-beater' Christopher Nkunku

Now a bona fide final third operator for Leipzig and France, Ben Chilwell and Reece James needn't worry about their places, however. FootballTransfers looks at how Chelsea might now line up…

Chelsea XI with Nkunku?

Nkunku's most recent season was prolific, with the Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate averaging a goal-involvement every 67 minutes he played for Leipzig in all competitions.

Although he can lead the line or occupy the No.10 position, Nkunku's favourite position is on the left flank, from where he can cut inside onto his stronger right foot. With Mykhailo Mudryk struggling to impress since his potential €100m arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, his place in the side would appear to be most under threat.

READ: Chelsea 'expected to bid' for third player after Caicedo and Jackson

Although Nkunku played up front alongside former Chelsea man Timo Werner at times last season, the role of No.9 now looks likely to go to Nicolas Jackson, the Senegal striker who scored nine goals in his last eight La Liga games with Villarreal last season who is reportedly closing on a €36m move.

Romelu Lukaku and his advisors are trying to engineer a permanent transfer to Inter Milan this summer, while Arsenal are closing on the signing of Kai Havertz, who only managed seven Premier League goals whilst leading the line last term.

Nkunku could yet have Mason Mount for company in midfield. The England international is out of contract in 2024 but Pochettino is understood to be keen to keep him at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United - his most likely suitors - are not yet in a position to buy as their takeover from the Glazers rumbles on.

Elsewhere, Enzo Fernandez should have Moises Caicedo alongside him in front of the defence. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, agreement of terms between player and club is close, with Chelsea and Brighton still thrashing out a transfer fee.

Kepa Arrizabalaga could start next season as the No.1, meanwhile. Edouard Mendy - like N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech - is set for a big-money move to Suadi Arabia, and the Blues have reportedly cooled on a move for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.