Manchester United are reportedly ready to triple Christopher Nkunku’s wages to sign him from Red Bull Leipzig in the summer.
Earlier in the year, reports of Manchester United’s interest in 24-year-old Red Bull Leipzig attacking midfielder, Christopher Nkunku, surfaced.
The report claimed that Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who will be taking a two-year consultancy role after his interim contract expires, was behind the move for the Frenchman.
Now, the Daily Star reports that United are ready to triple Nkunku’s current wages at RB Leipzig in order to entice him away from the Red Bull Arena in the summer.
Rangnick remains a fan of the Frenchman and has identified him as a signing that the Old Trafford hierarchy should make.
The Frenchman, who is yet to make his international debut for France, is a Paris Saint-Germain academy product. He spent four seasons with PSG’s senior squad between 2015 and 2019 before Rangnick facilitated his move to Germany in 2019.
Nkunku has greatly improved on his PSG record of 11 goals and four assists from 78 appearances in his two-and-a-half seasons at Leipzig.
Since signing for the German club he has made 121 appearances and has contributed to 79 goals (39 goals and 40 assists).
Contract situations of Ronaldo and Cavani leading into consideration of Nkunku signing
Two of United’s most senior forwards, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani are currently not certain to continue at Old Trafford next season.
Cavani could have left Old Trafford in the January transfer window but was convinced by Rangnick to stay on and end the season with them. Injuries, however, have hampered the Uruguayan’s participation in Manchester United’s top four challenge.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is only seeking to participate in the UEFA Champions League and rumours of an exit if Manchester United failed to make the tournament next season continue to abound in English media. His agent, Jorge Menses, thought to be discussing with other clubs about a potential move in the summer.
Nkunku, has scored 14 times in the Bundesliga this season playing as an attacking midfielder, a central midfielder and a winger. It is this form that has alerted Manchester United to the Frenchman as the Red Devils are in desperate need of a versatile player to fill up the gap which could be left by Ronaldo and Cavani’s potential exits.
United are also in desperate need of a midfielder who can create and score, and a 24 year old Frenchman fits the bill perfectly.
Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Paul Pogba are all likely to depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season, which is another reason for their pursuit of the Leipzig man.
The Frenchman currently earns a reported £30,000-a-week at the Bundesliga side and United’s offer will raise it to £100,000-a-week which could entice Nkunku away from the Red Bull Arena.
The 24-year-old has two years and some months remaining on his contract with RB Leipzig. He also has a contract buyout clause of £62 million and whether Manchester United are willing to match that in the summer remains to be seen.
