Nkunku Favors Return to Leipzig Over Newcastle
Christopher Nkunku is steering his future back towards familiar ground.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the French forward has made it clear he favours a return to RB Leipzig over a move to Newcastle United, with Milan prepared to let him leave on loan with an option to buy.
Leipzig in pole, Newcastle left trailing
Talks are ongoing between Milan and both clubs, but the race already looks uneven. Gazzetta’s Milan reporter Luca Bianchin reports that Newcastle are “well behind” Leipzig in the chase for the former Chelsea attacker, who spent four prolific seasons in Germany between 2019 and 2023.
Nkunku is not part of Ruben Amorim’s plans for next season, and the situation has moved quickly. Milan, who brought him in from Chelsea a year ago for €37m plus add-ons, are now ready to cut their losses after a muted first campaign at San Siro.
Eight goals in 35 competitive appearances is a modest return for a player signed to change the attack’s dimension. He had his moments – including a coolly taken penalty away to Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 17, 2026 – but never truly became the reference point Milan had imagined.
Deal structure taking shape
The pressure to find a solution has pushed all parties towards a familiar answer: Leipzig. The Bundesliga side know Nkunku, know how to use him, and are prepared to take on his sizeable wages.
Gazzetta reports that Milan and Leipzig are expected to finalise a loan deal with an option to buy in the coming days. Leipzig would cover his €5m salary for the 2026-27 season, a key detail that helps unlock the move.
Newcastle remain in the background, but unless something dramatic changes, this saga looks set to end where Nkunku once thrived. The question now is simple: can a return to Leipzig reignite the version of Nkunku that lit up the Bundesliga, or has his career entered a very different chapter?
