Christopher Nkunku’s move from RasenBallsport Leipzig to Chelsea has been officially confirmed by both clubs. According to reports, the transfer fee should be around 65 million euros. When his contract was extended last year, the Frenchman had an opt-out clause guaranteed. The most expensive sale of the Saxons so far was the transfer of Naby Keita to Liverpool in 2018 for 60 million euros.
“I had four years in Leipzig that I will never forget,” said Nkunku in an RB statement, while he was also quoted by Chelsea as saying: “After playing in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, I want to now play in the Premier League, one of the strongest leagues in the world.”
Last season, Nkunku scored the top scorer with his two goals in the last Bundesliga game against FC Schalke 04 (4:2) together with Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug (both 16 Bundesliga goals). In total he made 172 appearances for Leipzig and scored 70 goals. With 56 assists, he was involved in a total of 126 goals.
According to media reports, Brazil’s football federation has committed to Real Madrid’s current coach Carlo Ancelotti as the future coach of the national team. The 64-year-old should take over the Selecao from 2024, reported the TV channel “Sportv”, citing association sources. President Ednaldo Rodrigues reached the agreement with the Italian at two meetings in Spain last week. The newspaper “Folha de S. Paulo” reported that it was an oral agreement.
Ancelotti’s contract in Madrid runs until next year. Legally, he could therefore not sign with CBF until January 2024 – six months before the contract expires. However, the Brazilian association assumes that it already has guarantees for the star coach’s commitment. Ancelotti will nominate someone in Europe to guide the transition at the Seleção alongside interim coach Ramon Menezes until his arrival in Brazil.
Ancelotti has long been talked about as Brazil’s future coach. Despite the disappointing season with the Spanish record champions, the 64-year-old recently emphasized that the club had promised him that his contract, which runs until 2024, would be fulfilled. He and the team are already “focused on the next Champions League”.
According to Sky, Austria’s national player Christoph Baumgartner is moving from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to RB Leipzig. The medical check has therefore already been completed and the official announcement will be made in the next few days.
According to Sky, Baumgartner should change for a sum of 27 million euros plus possible bonus payments, his contract with the Saxons is estimated until the summer of 2027. At cup winners Leipzig, Baumgartner could play an important role on the offensive following Christopher Nkunku’s departure to Chelsea.
Gerardo Martino is said to be in agreement with Inter Miami and once again become the coach of his compatriot Lionel Messi. After the 60-year-old had already worked with the seven-time world footballer at FC Barcelona and in the national team, he is now supposed to coach the world champion at co-owner David Beckham’s club. The TV station “TyC Sports” reported that only the final details were missing, but that Martino had reached an agreement with Inter.
Martino last coached the national team of Mexico, but after the early World Cup exit he couldn’t continue there. He coached FC Barcelona from the summer of 2013 to the summer of 2014, when Messi was still playing for the Catalans. After that, Martino, who, like Messi, comes from Rosario, took over the Argentine national team for two years.
1. FC Nürnberg has strengthened their squad with Japanese offensive player Daichi Hayashi. The 26-year-old is on loan from Belgian first division side VV St. Truiden.
“We have closely followed his path over the past two years. In these two years he has inspired us with his mentality and his goal threat,” said Nuremberg’s sporting director Olaf Rebbe.
