Imagine him & Nkunku: Chelsea could form a "world-class" duo in bargain £10m move
Chelsea are intensifying their pursuit of want-away Borussia Monchengladbach forward
Marcus Thuram, and could instigate a move in the coming weeks.
Chelsea have recently completed the £9.7m loan signing of Atletico Madrid phenom Joao
Felix, but are displaying little sign of slowing on the transfer front as new owner Todd Boehly
looks to establish the club at the forefront of the European scene.
And now, manager Graham Potter has been boosted in his pursuit of a title-winning team following
Fabrizio Romano’s recent revelations on the current state of play, stating that the
Blues are indeed honing in on further additions, with the £10m-valued Thuram indeed at the
top of the shopping list.
Romano said: “João Félix deal will not change Chelsea plans as negotiations will
continue for Marcus Thuram as revealed last week and also other targets — in different
positions.
“Again, Christopher Nkunku deal 100% sealed for June – can be considered a Chelsea player.”
“World-class” partnership
If Chelsea are to match the boardroom’s ambitions on the field, then major adjustments
are swiftly needed; it is paramount that the aspiring outfit unbound their tethered attacking
play and rekindle the offensive prowess that will ignite the success Boehly so dearly craves.
Indeed, languishing in tenth place in the Premier League, and with severe concerns rising
ever-closer to the brim that European football will evade Stamford Bridge entirely next season,
something needs to change.
Potter has led his side to the ignominy of six defeats from the past nine competitive
outings, while the tally of 20 goals in the top-flight is the lowest of any top-half side
in the division; the cogs are not whirring despite the abundance of talent and reported
£315m injection since the opening of the summer transfer window.
However, as confirmed by the aforementioned Romano, the west London outfit have already
completed a £52.4m deal for RB Leipzig’s Nkunku, who has netted 52 goals from 75 appearances
for his German Bundesliga side across the past two seasons, and Thuram could be the
final ingredient to serve up a fluid and cohesive offensive tint to the Chelsea sword.
Having endured an injury-hampered campaign last year, the Frenchman Thuram has plundered
a prolific 13 goals from 17 appearances this term, consequently earning a place in his
nation’s 2022 World Cup squad and impressing when called upon, notably serving an assist
for Kylian Mbappe in the historic finale against Argentina, who clinched triumph in a penalty
shootout.
The 25-year-old has been described as “world-class” by Daniel Farke, also demonstrating his perpetually-filled
gas tank by playing every minute of the league campaign despite the relentless nature of
his high-octane frontal role.
As per FBref, the £28m-rated gem ranks within the top 7% for goals, 8% for total shots and
6% for dribbles completed when compared to forwards across the major European leagues;
Nkunku, meanwhile, ranks within the top 4% for goals, but intriguingly within the top
percentile for pass completion and top 8% for progressive passes.
Effectively, the pairing has every inclination of prospering on English soil, with both players
capable of peppering opposing nets with a consistent, devastating goal threat but merging
into a partnership that situates the Leipzig ace behind his compatriot, seeking openings
and creating space.
The duality of offensive excellence, balanced by the counterpoint of differentiating skill
sets, could provide Chelsea with a forward line that can conjure up goals and assists
from every nook and every cranny; effectively, it could be a torrent of sustained attack,
tempestuous waves that will displace even the most resilient of defences.