Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United are reportedly closing in on another major attacking addition, with Christopher Nkunku emerging as the latest high-profile name linked with a move to St James’ Park.
The versatile French forward is available for transfer this summer after being left out of AC Milan’s pre-season plans, and reports from Italy, relayed by The Sun, claim Newcastle are “close” to securing his signature.
However, there is an important caveat. While the reports have generated plenty of excitement among Newcastle supporters, the claims have not yet been backed up by sources on Tyneside.
Nkunku, 28, has attracted interest from several clubs after Milan made him available for around £25million. The French international could now be looking for another move just one year after arriving in Italy from Chelsea.
The attacker previously made his name at RB Leipzig, where he enjoyed an outstanding spell after joining the German club for around £11million in 2019. He scored 70 goals in 172 appearances for Leipzig, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking players.
His performances eventually convinced Chelsea to invest around £52million to bring him to the Premier League.
However, Nkunku struggled to consistently reproduce his Leipzig form in England. He scored 18 goals in 62 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea, with only six of those coming in the Premier League.
After two seasons in west London, Chelsea allowed him to leave for AC Milan in a deal worth around £32million plus add-ons.
His time in Italy could now be coming to an unexpectedly early end. Nkunku has scored eight goals in 35 appearances for Milan, but his current situation has led to speculation that he could move again before the transfer window closes.
Newcastle’s reported interest is understandable given the type of player they are seeking. Nkunku can operate as an attacking midfielder, forward or out wide, giving Eddie Howe another versatile option in the final third.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also provided an update on Nkunku’s situation, confirming that RB Leipzig have submitted a loan proposal to bring their former star back to Germany.
Romano explained that Nkunku wants to assess all of his options before deciding his next move, meaning Newcastle could face competition if they genuinely decide to pursue a deal.
The latest transfer speculation comes during a busy period for Newcastle. The Magpies have already completed six summer signings, with Amar Dedic recently arriving from Benfica for just under £30million.
Dedic joins Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba and Lukas Hornicek as Newcastle’s summer additions.
Despite those arrivals, the club are expected to remain active before the September 1 deadline.
Following the departures of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle still have important areas to strengthen. A defensive midfielder and another attacking player are believed to remain among the club’s priorities.
That makes Nkunku an intriguing name to watch.
For now, reports claiming Newcastle are close to signing him should be treated with caution. There is currently a clear difference between the claims coming from Italy and the information emerging from sources on Tyneside.
Nkunku is reportedly considering his options, with Leipzig also pushing for a temporary return.
But if Newcastle decide to make a serious move, the Frenchman could quickly become one of the most talked-about names on Tyneside before the transfer window closes.
The next few days could therefore prove crucial, with Newcastle expected to continue working behind the scenes as they look to complete further business before the September 1 deadline.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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