Sadio Mane’s Liverpool call hands Chelsea Christopher Nkunku and Ousmane Dembele transfer blow

Sadio Mane’s decision to leave Liverpool this summer could hand Chelsea an indirect blow in their pursuit of Christopher Nkunku. A report from The Athletic claims Mane has made the decision to leave the Reds over the summer transfer window with Bayern Munich said to be interested.

The 30-year-old winger is now expected to inform Liverpool of his desire to leave Anfield in the coming days after the Reds were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League final. While not having a direct impact on Chelsea, it could affect the club’s transfer plans this summer.

The Blues are interested in signing Nkunku from RB Leipzig this summer, football.london understands, after the Frenchman’s sensational 2021/22 Bundesliga season. The west Londoners hold a long-term interest in the 24-year-old, who scored 20 goals in the German top-flight over the recently-concluded season.

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Chelsea are set to enter the transfer market for an attacker to try and improve the side’s fortunes in front of goal. Mason Mount finished the 2021/22 season as the club’s top goalscorer in the Premier League after striking 11 times.

Nkunku could be the man for Chelsea in that regard as the Frenchman proved his clinical nature in Germany last time out. Liverpool, though, have also been linked with a move for the Leipzig attacker.

The Reds have an array of options for their front three. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Mane are often rotated by Jurgen Klopp, but with the latter of the five now expected to leave, the club could step up their reported pursuit of Nkunku.

If it’s not Nkunku, then it could be Ousmane Dembele that Liverpool turn to. According to SPORT, the Reds have ‘contacted’ the France international’s entourage over a free transfer this summer.

Chelsea held a strong interest in Dembele back in the January transfer window. However, Thomas Tuchel confirmed when the window closed that he had no contact with the French winger, who he managed during his time at Borussia Dortmund.

The Chelsea head coach said: “I did not have contact with Ousmane. There was no contact in the winter.”

Whether or not the Blues remain interested in Dembele under new ownership remains to be seen. The Barcelona winger will not be short of suitors this summer, though, as he becomes a free agent upon the expiry of his contract.