Chelsea has reportedly placed a valuation of over £60 million on Christopher Nkunku, amid growing interest from Bayern Munich, according to football.london.
The German champions are keeping a close watch on the French forward, who has had limited game time at Stamford Bridge this season.
Nkunku, 27, has managed to start only three Premier League matches for Chelsea this term and is said to be frustrated with his restricted opportunities.
Despite his lack of regular playing time, Nkunku has been effective, sharing the title of Chelsea’s joint-top scorer alongside Cole Palmer, with both players netting 13 goals across all competitions.
However, there’s a significant difference in their scoring distribution: all of Palmer’s goals have come in the Premier League, whereas Nkunku has scored only twice in the league while playing just 390 minutes overall.
This situation has sparked Bayern Munich’s interest, and the Bavarian club is reportedly keen to explore the possibility of signing him.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is open to discussions and has expressed interest in Bayern’s highly-rated 19-year-old forward, Mathys Tel. Tel, who recently extended his contract with Bayern, is not actively being shopped around, but Chelsea is prepared to make a move if the German side signals any willingness to negotiate.
Chelsea’s strong bargaining position stems from Nkunku’s long-term contract, which runs for four and a half more years.
This contractual security allows Chelsea to firmly set a valuation exceeding £60 million for the forward.
However, the club’s stance on Nkunku has shifted over the past few months.
In November, head coach Enzo Maresca was adamant that Nkunku would not leave during the January transfer window.
When asked about the possibility of a sale, Maresca confidently dismissed it, stating, “Absolutely, yes.
We have so many games. I completely want Christo to stay with us; I don’t have any idea to let him leave in January.”
Maresca also addressed rumors about Nkunku’s dissatisfaction, explaining, “I spoke to Christo days ago, and he did not say he was unhappy.
For sure, he would like to play more minutes, but that’s like many players.”
However, Chelsea’s transfer decisions are ultimately overseen by co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, who focus on the club’s long-term recruitment strategy.
While Maresca may publicly express his intentions, the final say on transfers lies with Stewart, Winstanley, and the club’s ownership.
This layered decision-making process ensures that Chelsea prioritizes its overall strategic goals, even if it means reconsidering a manager’s earlier comments.
As transfer negotiations continue to evolve, Maresca’s earlier remarks about Nkunku’s future now appear less definitive, reflecting football’s unpredictable nature.
