Liverpool send scouts to hijack Chelsea plans as Blues plot £80m spree
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Liverpool are reportedly scouting RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku in hope that they can prise him away from a move to Chelsea. The France international has already completed his medical ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge but a deal between the clubs has not yet been agreed.
Nkunku has been one of Europe’s top performers this year, impressing in the Bundesliga last season and kickstarting the new campaign in equally electric form. The 24-year-old has scored seven in 10 league appearances, with Chelsea in a prime position to secure his signature at some stage in 2023.
The club have already convinced the player to join them in the Premier League and are willing to match the £52million release clause in his contract, though they would like to negotiate a lower fee with Leipzig if possible. Thus, opening the door for another side to swoop in and sign the former Paris Saint-Germain star.
According to The Sun, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Nkunku play against Celtic earlier this week in the Champions League and are hoping that his move to Chelsea stalls so that they can pounce. The Reds are aware that he is likely to sign for their Premier League rivals and that they have most probably ‘missed the boat’ but are continuing to keep tabs on his progress.
Nkunku can be deployed on either wing, as a striker and as a No 10, which will provide Graham Potter with plenty of options when he switches formation midgame to adjust to the flow of matches. The Blues are keen to flex their money-spending muscles over the coming transfer windows under Todd Boehly, with aspirations of being capable of competing for all trophies.
Potter is keen to improve his defence over the coming windows too, with the club weighing up a move for Josko Gvardiol, also of Leipzig. The central defender penned a contract extension with the Bundesliga outfit earlier this season meaning that it could cost up to £80m to secure his signature, significantly more than what the Blues bid for him towards the end of the summer.
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Given that he has worked with Brighton, Swansea and Ostersunds previously, some have questioned whether Potter is capable of managing ‘big egos’, and he addressed those claims earlier this week, saying: “As far as I’m aware, they are still human beings. There is a media perception when they get to a certain level that they grow a second head or something and they become not like the rest of us. That is easy to put out there but the reality is not the case.
“At Brighton, there weren’t ‘big’ players but Adam Lallana won the Champions League and played for Liverpool for seven years, Danny Welbeck has had a good career and I spoke to those guys and did alright with them despite their second head because players have massive egos.”
Given that he has worked with Brighton, Swansea and Ostersunds previously, some have questioned whether Potter is capable of managing ‘big egos’, and he addressed those claims earlier this week, saying: “As far as I’m aware, they are still human beings. There is a media perception when they get to a certain level that they grow a second head or something and they become not like the rest of us. That is easy to put out there but the reality is not the case.
“At Brighton, there weren’t ‘big’ players but Adam Lallana won the Champions League and played for Liverpool for seven years, Danny Welbeck has had a good career and I spoke to those guys and did alright with them despite their second head because players have massive egos.”
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