Christopher Nkunku’s agent has reportedly approached Barcelona with the possibility of a cut-price deal for the Chelsea forward.
Signed for £52 million, Nkunku has struggled to secure regular playing time under new manager Enzo Maresca, who has prioritized Nicolas Jackson in the starting lineup. The Frenchman has been relegated to Chelsea’s second-string side, primarily featuring in the UEFA Conference League, where he has scored five goals in as many games.
According to SPORT, Nkunku is growing frustrated with his lack of minutes and is open to leaving Chelsea, either on loan in January or through a permanent transfer next summer.
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His agent, Pini Zahavi, has begun searching for a new club for the 27-year-old and has reportedly reached out to Barcelona. Zahavi, known for his strong relationship with the Catalan club, has conveyed Nkunku’s willingness to accept a reduced salary to facilitate a move.
The proposal comes as Barcelona begins to reassess its reliance on current striker Robert Lewandowski. Despite scoring 16 goals in 18 La Liga games, the Polish forward has only netted twice in his last seven appearances. With Lewandowski set to turn 37 next season, concerns are growing over the club’s lack of a viable alternative and the potential for a significant physical decline.
While Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is keen to bring in a new striker to provide competition for Lewandowski, no moves are expected during the January transfer window.
Nkunku has now joined a shortlist of potential targets for Barcelona, which also includes Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.