Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku is reportedly closing in on a move to Bayern Munich this summer.

The future of Christopher Nkunku is once again in the spotlight, with Florian Plettenberg via X reporting that the French forward has verbally agreed on personal terms with Bayern Munich. The player himself is keen on the move, eager to relaunch his career in the Bundesliga after a frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge.

Nkunku’s side of the deal is simple: he wants to join Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old has accepted the contract terms offered by the Bavarian giants, putting that part of the negotiations to rest. However, as is often the case in modern transfers, the stumbling block lies in the structure of the deal between the clubs.

Chelsea have made their stance clear; they are pushing for a permanent transfer, seeing Nkunku’s sale as an opportunity to bring in significant funds and free up space in the squad. The Blues’ transfer strategy hinges on generating money to move forward with other targets, namely Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig and Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.

On the other hand, Bayern Munich are only prepared to commit to an initial loan deal with the possibility of revisiting a permanent switch later. The Bundesliga champions are wary of committing large funds up front, especially after heavy investment this summer in players like Luis Diaz, who replaced Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman.

A race against time

With less than two weeks left in the transfer window, time is working against Chelsea. Should they fail to offload Christopher Nkunku, it could disrupt their plans to land Xavi Simons, a long-term target seen as a cornerstone for Enzo Maresca’s rebuild.

For Bayern Munich, the willingness to walk away remains a threat; the Bavarian club’s preference for flexibility suggests that if Chelsea do not soften their stance, they will look elsewhere for reinforcements.

Nkunku’s potential departure also brings attention to Chelsea’s attacking depth. Jamie Gittens’s performance on the opening day showed signs of adjustment issues, while Joao Pedro and Willian Estevao are still settling into the squad. Garnacho, should he be prised away from Manchester United, offers Premier League readiness that Chelsea sorely need.

Further talks are scheduled in the coming days, but unless either Chelsea soften their stance on a permanent transfer or Bayern Munich agree to commit more than a loan, this saga could end in stalemate.

For Nkunku, the desire is clear: he wants Bayern Munich. For Chelsea, the mission is equally clear: they need a clean sale to fund their next steps. The tug-of-war continues, and with the clock ticking, a resolution must come soon.