Overview

• Chelsea have listed Christopher Nkunku at £35m after recruiting Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and moving to complete a deal for Jamie Gittens this summer.
• The reduced fee represents a £17m drop from the £52m Chelsea paid for Nkunku in June 2023, reflecting his diminished role under manager Enzo Maresca.
• UEFA imposed a £78.5m penalty on Chelsea for breaching spending rules, compelling a summer clear-out to comply with financial regulations.
• Manchester United have placed Nkunku on their striker shortlist but must balance any bid against their own Financial Fair Play constraints.
• United are also considering alternatives such as Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as swap-style offers involving players like Alejandro Garnacho are hindered by budget limits.