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Chelsea are about to hand Mauricio Pochettino 'one of the world's best' as welcome gift
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is set to receive an exciting welcome gift in his early days at the club.
Chelsea chiefs are about to hand Mauricio Pochettino "one of the best players in the world". Christopher Nkunku is set to join the Blues this summer and he has earned rave reviews ahead of his move to England.
Chelsea agreed a deal with RB Leipzig for Nkunku in late 2022. The Blues are yet to formally announce his arrival but the transfer has been an open secret for several months.
Nkunku had a release clause in his Leipzig contract of around £53million and Chelsea have triggered it. The Frenchman is set to provide a much-needed goalscoring boost to Pochettino's squad.
Pochettino does not officially start in his role as Chelsea boss until July 1. However, the Argentine has already had a say on possible signings and departures.
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The deal for Nkunku was already agreed well before Pochettino's appointment. But he will be a timely welcome gift as he attempts to start his era at Stamford Bridge strongly.
Nkunku had an injury-hit campaign at Leipzig, starting just 20 league matches. But he was still the joint-top scorer in Bundesliga with 16 goals to his name.
That tally is seven goals more than Chelsea's two leading goalscorers in all competitions this season. After Foot RMC pundit Polo Breitner has always been a big fan of Nkunku.
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And he claims the 25-year-old has turned into one of the best players around. Breitner said on Monday: "I don't know if we realise in France, for example, the evolution of Christopher Nkunku. I defended him almost from the start when he arrived in the Bundesliga unlike some other French people in the Bundesliga like Thuram or others.
"I consider that a player like Christopher Nkunku we are unable to define him on a particular position. He is a finisher, he has scored an incredible number of goals in Bundesliga, he is the joint-top scorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals with [Niclas] Fullkrug.
"He's made a number of assists. We don't know if he's a left [sided player], we don't know if he is a support striker, second striker. I can assure you that I will miss him in the Bundesliga even though it's not formalised, he should be in the Chelsea side next year.
"Christopher Nkunku has become, without us really realizing it, perhaps one of the best players in the world. In any case, from my point of view, perhaps the best all-rounder from Europe."
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