Arsenal Exploring Shock Move for Unsettled Chelsea Forward Wanted by Bayern Munich

As the summer transfer window creeps closer, it seems Arsenal could be ready to spring one of the more surprising moves of the market.

According to fresh reports, the Gunners are seriously exploring a shock swoop for Chelsea’s unsettled star Christopher Nkunku — a player who also happens to be on the radar of Bayern Munich.

Christopher Nkunku Expected to Leave Chelsea This Summer

When Christopher Nkunku first signed for Chelsea, hopes were sky-high. The French international arrived with a glowing reputation, having dazzled Bundesliga audiences with RB Leipzig and establishing himself as one of Europe’s most versatile and exciting forwards.

But fast forward to today, and things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.

Persistent injuries derailed his early months at Stamford Bridge, and even when fit, Nkunku has struggled to nail down a starting role under Enzo Maresca. While he’s made occasional appearances in the Conference League and stepped up when called upon, his Premier League involvement has been limited to just nine starts — hardly what Chelsea fans envisioned when the club splashed out around £50m for his signature.

With Nicolas Jackson sidelined for several weeks through injury, many expected Nkunku to seize the moment and make himself indispensable. Instead, the Frenchman has found himself fighting for scraps, prompting growing speculation that he could be seeking a new home once the season wraps up.

Arsenal Named Among Potential Summer Suitors

Enter Arsenal.

As reported by RMC Sport, the Gunners have been monitoring Nkunku’s situation closely and were even considering a January move before ultimately opting to hold fire. Now, with the summer market looming, Mikel Arteta’s side is prepared to reignite their interest.

Arsenal’s desire for attacking reinforcements is no secret. While Gabriel Jesus offers energy and work rate and Kai Havertz has been a revelation as a false nine, neither profile exactly fits the traditional, clinical striker mould Arteta is believed to be targeting.

The club has been heavily linked to Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, two players more in the physical, direct forward category. But in Nkunku, Arsenal would be getting a different kind of weapon — someone who can play through the middle, drop deeper to link play, or even drift wide to fill the left-wing role.

That versatility could be key, especially considering ongoing questions over the futures of players like Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, and the need to provide more depth behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Bayern Munich Still in the Race

Of course, Arsenal won’t have a free run at Nkunku.

Bayern Munich’s interest in the Frenchman is long-standing and very real. The German giants reportedly made inquiries in January, but a move ultimately didn’t materialize — largely due to the steep £70m asking price Chelsea slapped on Nkunku’s head.

According to journalist Christian Falk, Bayern remain admirers and Nkunku himself is said to be very open to the idea of returning to Germany, where he previously enjoyed his best football.

However, finances could once again prove a stumbling block. Bayern’s top summer priority appears to be a blockbuster move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, a deal that would easily smash the €100m barrier. Funding both Wirtz and Nkunku without significant sales would be tricky even for a club of Bayern’s stature.

One solution floated is the permanent sale of Mathys Tel, currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs hold an option to make the move permanent for around £50m, but it remains unclear whether they will trigger it.

Without Tel’s sale, Bayern’s ability to afford Nkunku — on top of Wirtz — seems unlikely, giving Arsenal a potential opening.

Chelsea’s Plans and the Forward Line Shake-Up

It’s worth noting that Chelsea are not desperately pushing Nkunku out the door. Club insiders suggest they still value his talent and believe he could be an important piece moving forward if he can rediscover his best form.

That said, the club is realistic. Chelsea know they need to balance the books and reshape a forward line that has failed to deliver consistently over the past two seasons.

Nkunku’s departure would free up significant wage space and offer a valuable cash injection — one that could help fund moves for new faces like Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.

Delap, seen as one of England’s brightest young striker prospects, is reportedly Chelsea’s top target. His release clause, said to be around £30m if Ipswich are relegated (a growing likelihood), would be comfortably affordable if Nkunku were sold for close to Chelsea’s desired figure.

Arsenal’s Opportunity: A Smart Gamble?

For Arsenal, moving for Nkunku would represent something of a gamble — but potentially a calculated and worthwhile one.

At his best, Nkunku is one of the most devastating attacking players in Europe. His pace, close control, movement, and clinical edge around the box make him a nightmare for defenders. He offers a different profile to anyone currently in Arsenal’s squad and could thrive in Arteta’s fluid attacking system.

The big question, however, is fitness. Can Nkunku stay healthy? Arsenal have been burned before by investing heavily in injury-prone players, and after a relatively stable few seasons at Leipzig, Nkunku’s Chelsea spell has been marred by frustrating setbacks.

Still, for a club aiming to add depth and variety ahead of another Champions League campaign and another tilt at the Premier League title, taking a swing on Nkunku — especially if a cut-price deal can be struck — could make a lot of sense.

Final Thoughts: A Transfer Saga to Watch

As it stands, Christopher Nkunku has a lot of thinking to do this summer. Stay at Chelsea and fight for his place under Maresca? Return to Germany with Bayern Munich and reignite his career in familiar surroundings? Or opt for a fresh start in North London and join an Arsenal side on the rise?

Whatever happens, this is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing sagas of the summer window — and one that could have major ramifications not just for Arsenal and Chelsea, but for the whole landscape of the Premier League.

One thing’s for sure: if Arsenal can pull this off, it could be one of the smartest pieces of business of the entire summer.