According to Football.London, Arsenal target Christopher Nkunku will be available for a cut-price this summer, with his current contract at PSG expiring at th end of next season. The 21-year-old was valued around £25 million earlier this summer, but it appears that the Parisians are now willing to let of their prized young attacker for just £13.2 million.
However, Arsenal could face stiff competition in the pursuit of Nkunku with Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig also interested in his services.
Nkunku’s dire spell at PSG
A product of the PSG youth academy, Nkunku was initially promoted to the senior side back in December 2015. But, he never managed to make a breakthrough into the starting lineup, failing to muster over 1,000 minutes of league football in each of first three seasons at the club.
In the recently concluded 2018/19 campaign, however, Nkunku featured in 22 matches, totalling a game-time of 1,169 minutes. But, it is still not enough considering the quality of the player, who has evidently struggled to cope with the growing competition in the attacking department at PSG. Hence, a move away from the French capital could make sense as he seeks regular first-team football next season.
What can Nkunku bring to the table?
Nkunku is predominantly a central midfielder but can cover a host of positions on the field, including the number 10 as well as the fullback slots. He can also feature as a deep-lying playmaker, mainly due to his technical prowess and impressing passing range. The 21-year-old notably attained a pass completion rate of 91% during the 2018/19 campaign.
However, what sets him apart from other technically astute midfielders is his physical prowess. Indeed, the Frenchman is difficult to be shrugged off the ball, meaning he can also act as the ball carrier and create chances in the final third. And this is backed up by the fact that he has averaged 1.3 key passes per game this past season.
Should Arsenal make a move for Nkunku?
Nkunku will be an excellent addition to the Arsenal midfield that is bound to struggle following the departure of Aaron Ramsey. But, the youngster’s technical prowess coupled with his physical attributes and willingness to move forward with the ball means he can be considered as a potential long-term replacement for the Welshman.
Besides, the current crop of Arsenal midfielders in Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka are not really proficient when it comes to offering offensive support. Nkunku, in that regard, will be able to add a new dimension to the midfield department and for a fee of just £13.2, he could potentially be a bargain for the Gunners.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
