Liverpool ‘turned down chance to sign Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku’

Liverpool reportedly turned down a chance to sign French striker Christopher Nkunku last summer, paving the way for him to join Chelsea.

The 25-year-old will join Stamford Bridge in the summer after Chelsea agreed a £63million fee for him last month. Chelsea reportedly paid £10m via Nkunku’s release clause to secure him.

But Nkunku could have signed for Liverpool only for manager Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders, whose over-transfers have increased, to turn down the opportunity.

Liverpool reportedly turned down a chance to sign RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku last summer, allowing Chelsea to secure a £63million deal for the French striker

Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders, who is increasingly influencing transfer decisions, decided against a move for Nkunku

The Daily Telegraph report that Nkunku’s positional flexibility up the forward line meant he could have been a long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino.

He would also have rivaled Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz in the wide areas.

Although Liverpool have completed the £44million signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, who is expected to face Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday night, they are exhausted with injuries in attack.

Diaz, Diogo Jota and Firmino have all spent time on the touchlines during the busy festive playlist, with Liverpool losing 3-1 at Brentford on Monday in a setback to their top four ambitions.

Nkunku was forced to watch the World Championship from the sidelines after suffering an injury

Nkunku hobbled out of training on the eve of the Worlds and missed the tournament

But even if Liverpool had reconsidered Nkunku’s January signing, Chelsea had already forestalled them.

The Frenchman has scored 17 goals in 23 games for Leipzig this season, against a Gaul in 2021/22 with 35 goals.

Nkunku was forced to pull out of France’s World Cup squad after sustaining an injury on the eve of the tournament.

He became the first statement-signing of the Graham Potter era at Stamford Bridge, although he can do nothing about the Blues’ stuttering form as they battle for a place in the top four.

Nkunku has proven to be a prolific goalscorer for RB Leipzig in recent seasons

Liverpool put on one of their worst performances in a while when they lost at Brentford

Lijnder’s influence on Liverpool’s recruitment has grown in recent years following the departure of technical director Michael Edwards in 2021 and his successor Julian Ward serving his notice period.

Mike Gordon, the president of owners of Fenway Sports Group, has stepped down from the recruitment side, while Ian Graham, the club’s director of research, has left.

Three of Liverpool’s key signings of the last two seasons – Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Gakpo – have been approved by Lijnders.