French sensation Nkunku scored more than Ronaldo last year and is set for Chelsea

But the Bundesliga's Player of the 2021/22 Season looks to be heading to Chelsea after Thomas Tuchel's departure despite Manchester United and Liverpool being desperate to recruit him.

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The attacking midfielder scored a hat-trick for Leipzig in their 6-3 defeat against Manchester City in the Champions League last year.

He finished the campaign with 20 goals and 13 assists in the German top-flight.

And he even was ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League scoring charts despite Leipzig being eliminated in the group stage!

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So far this year, he has six goals in 11 games with Leipzig sat in tenth.

Yet despite intense interest from England over the summer, Nkunku remained in Germany and signed a new deal.

The French international also indicated he would like to return to PSG if he were to leave Leipzig: "Paris, I've always said it, is my home, my heart club.

"I don't close any doors. Everything is possible in football. It's flattering to have the biggest clubs in the world interested in me. But it's also flattering that Leipzig are doing everything to keep me."

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Man United's interest in Nkunku rapidly increased when Ralf Rangnick arrived as interim manager late last year.

The German was sporting director of Leipzig involved in the negotiations that brought the Frenchman to the club from PSG in 2019.

Upon signing for Leipzig, Nkunku said: "I feel I am blossoming and liberated. Changing clubs was not such a bad idea. Now I can say that it is better to leave your comfort zone to grow taller."

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Although Rangnick has since left Old Trafford, United's interest in Nkunku has remained.

Arsenal were among the player's suitors when limited game-time meant Nkunku would leave PSG three years ago.

Leipzig snapped him up for a bargain £11m five-year deal, but Chelsea, United and Liverpool have since joined the race to sign him following his performances last season.

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But the Blues have moved ahead of their rivals and the player looks set for Stamford Bridge next year.

Nkunku completed a medical in Germany over the summer and is set to cost £53m, but Liverpool are also interested.

However, now that Tuchel has departed Chelsea, the west London side might have a better chance of beating their rivals to his signature.

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Nkunku isn't the German's biggest fan after being frozen out by him at PSG, talking to Canal Plus, he said: "The arrival of Tuchel made me think.

"The fact of starting a season without really knowing what role you are going to have, it's quite complicated.

"There comes a time when you come to the end of your contract and you have one year left, either you extend or you leave, I made the choice to simply leave."

Nkunku's decision to depart the Parc des Princes has certainly paid off but his form couldn't stop Leipzig parting ways with now-Leeds boss Jesse Marsch last December.

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Yet before he left the club, the American hailed his star man after playing him across the pitch as a No 10, No 8 or a winger this season.

"We have spoken to Christopher a lot about playing on the counter, and also what he needs to do to play as a striker, a No 10 and on both wings,' Marsch said.

"Christopher has no weaknesses. He is young and still wants a lot more.

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"It's always a good thing when a young player listens to the things we say and also wants to implement them.

"Working with him is a lot of fun as he is really intelligent and has a lot of potential."

Lining up against his former boss during a trip to Elland Road next season will be another chance for Nkunku to prove he has turned potential into performance…