Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a shock move for RB Leipzig talisman Christopher Nkunku - despite the fact the Bundesliga outfit are holding out for an eye-watering transfer fee of £100million.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a sensational rise over the last year or so, with the most recent campaign seeing Nkunku net a remarkable 35 goals across 50 appearances in all competitions alongside 15 assists to match.
With a record of one goal contribution for every game he features, some of the biggest sides on the continent are keen on his services. The Gunners are not the only team keeping tabs on Nkunku, with Premier League rivals Manchester United also desperate for his signature.
It is important to note that Arsenal's interest in Nkunku is not anything new. In fact, they actually harboured a desire to sign him before he had even joined Leipzig in 2019.
Given the 24-year-old was once of Paris Saint-Germain, his ability was clear to see in the eyes of ex PSG and Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Therefore, once the Spaniard had left Paris and arrived in North London - his ideal transfer was an obvious one.
And yet, Emery was seemingly blocked from trying to mount a move for Nkunku - potentially by some of the more prominent boardroom figures that came above him at the Emirates and Arsenal missed out on quite the talent.
They could now be made to pay quite the fee for that error, as if they want to finally get Nkunku it is going to cost them significantly more than it would have three years ago.
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The Independent claim Arsenal are ready to part ways with £100m to bring the Frenchman to the club as they know the race for his signature next summer will only involve even more interested clubs - some of whom who could easily price the Gunners out of the running.
There are already murmurings the Ligue 1 champions have plans to try and re-sign their former academy graduate, making Arsenal's life particularly difficult.
Nkunku was not the only player Emery wished to recruit while in the Emirates hot-seat. The current Villarreal boss was keen on Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, but was instead given Nicolas Pepe for a club-record fee of £72m.
It would be unfair to say that particular deal has been anything short of a disaster, while this latest report would suggest manager Mikel Arteta is in full agreement with his predecessor that Nkunku is the player to take Arsenal forward.
