Manchester United's hopes of signing Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig this summer could reportedly be ended by any failure to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Nkunku's form this season has prompted growing speculation over his future beyond the end of the current campaign, with a number of clubs understood to be keeping tabs on the 24-year-old.
The attacker has directly contributed to 49 goals in just 44 outings across all competitions for Leipzig this term, scoring 30 himself and creating another 19 for his teammates.
Man United's interim manager Ralf Rangnick is thought to be a big fan of Nkunku having helped to take him to Leipzig in 2019, and reports have suggested that he wanted the 20-time English champions to sign him during the January transfer window.
Rangnick is due to move into an advisory role when his short-term deal expires at the end of this season, and he is once again expected to push for Man United to bring in Nkunku this summer.
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However, German outlet Sport Bild claims that the Red Devils' hopes of winning the race for his signature could be negatively impacted by a failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Nkunku is keen to join a club playing at the highest level, while the impact of missing out on Europe's elite club competition would also force Man United to lower their summer transfer budget.
The two-time France international is expected to command a fee of around £54m if he is to leave Leipzig this summer, with his contract at the Bundesliga outfit not due to expire until 2024.
Man United currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, three points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with six games of the season remaining.
Arsenal are also in contention, currently sitting level on points with Man United but with a game in hand, and the report claims that the Gunners are also ready to battle the Red Devils for Nkunku's signature.
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Inter Milan are another club keeping tabs on his situation, and they are closing in on Champions League qualification in Serie A which could boost their hopes of winning the race.
The uncertainty surrounding Man United's next manager may also harm their chances of beating their rivals to Nkunku, although reports have suggested that Erik ten Hag could be announced within the coming days.
Nkunku came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Leipzig in 2019, scoring 42 goals and assisting 46 more in 128 games for the club since.
Leipzig themselves also have work to do in order to secure Champions League qualification next season, currently sitting third in the table but only three points clear of fifth-placed Freiburg.
Barney Corkhill
