RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku has returned to full first-team training after suffering a serious knee injury on the eve of France's World Cup campaign. The forward suffered the problem in training just days before the tournament started in November, but he now seems to be back and fully fit with the German outfits Champions League last-16 clash on the horizon.
football.london understands a deal to bring Nkunku to Chelsea from Leipzig is already in place which will see him arrive in west London ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Blues are said to have reached a pre-contract agreement with Leipzig worth over £50million and while not officially confirmed, Leipzig sporting director all but announced the deal recently by saying, "The signs are very, very clear that he's moving to Chelsea".
Graham Potter and Todd Boehly were likely hoping to see Nkunku in action on the world stage but that chance was ruined by his injury. However, Nkunku looks to be nearing a matchday squad return with two games in the Bundesliga to be contested by Leipzig before they face English champions Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 on February 22.
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Leipzig issued a major Nkunku injury update towards the end of January which showed the striker back out training alone on the grass. Just over a week later, the club then posted another update which shows Nkunku emerging from the changing rooms to join training with his teammates. Upon seeing the camera, the Frenchman said, "finally back."
Nkunku's teammate Josko Gvardiol likely still remains of interest to Chelsea despite their acquisition of Benoit Badiashile in January, and both can now ask Timo Werner, who left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2020 but re-joined the club two years later, about his experience at Stamford Bridge.
In the public eye, the German international has already given his verdict on his time in west London, but refused to offer specific advice to Nkunku about how he will find his own experience there. Speaking to German outlet SportBILD, the former Chelsea striker said: "Everyone has to have their own experience. I had a very good first year, the second was so-so. I can tell him from positive and negative experiences, should he change.
"At a club like that, you don’t play like you did at RB Leipzig, because there’s even more competition – not only on a sporting level, but also on another level, in the mental area. You have to cope with that, and everyone has to find their own way. "That’s why it’s the wrong approach to give others tips. Time has changed me a lot."
The competition for places, as referenced by Werner, has subsequently only increased following his departure with Nkunku's favoured position meaning he faces a tough challenge for minutes. New arrivals Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and David Datro Fofana are all now competing for spots with Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz,, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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