Christopher Nkunku has insisted that he is not planning to leave RB Leipzig in 2023 despite the recent speculation surrounding his future.
The 24-year-old had been strongly linked with a move away from his German club this summer before it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Bulls until 2026.
There is a release clause of €60m (£51.6m) in the deal, though, and it has widely been claimed that the France international will leave Leipzig during next summer's transfer window.
A host of the world's biggest clubs, including Manchester United, are believed to be interested in the attacker, and a recent report claimed that the Red Devils were planning to sign him next summer.
However, Nkunku has played down suggestions that a decision has already been made in terms of his future.
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"For me, it was a given to extend my contract here. I feel right at home in this city and at this club. I still don't see my work here as finished. So I'm not thinking about leaving the club next year either," Nkunku told reporters.
"We did really well as a team last season, but there's still more to come. I want to continue the success with RB Leipzig."
Nkunku was in impressive form for Leipzig during the 2021-22 season, scoring 35 goals and registering 19 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions.
In the Bundesliga, he netted 20 times and provided 14 assists in 33 appearances, while he scored seven goals and registered two assists in six Champions League appearances.
Nkunku also contributed four goals and three assists in six DFB-Pokal appearances, as Leipzig won the trophy beating Freiburg on penalties in the final.
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"I'm pleased to continue wearing the RB Leipzig shirt. After our great achievement in winning the DFB-Pokal, it remained clear that my story here isn't over yet – we want more!" Nkunku told his club's official website when his new deal was announced.
"I was really impressed with the club's efforts to keep me, so a big thanks goes to those responsible for the trust in me and especially to Oliver Mintzlaff, with whom I was always in close contact.
"RB Leipzig have made a name for themselves on the international stage in recent years and have shown time and again that we can compete for titles. We want to build on that going forward and go one step further."
Nkunku made the move to Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2019, and he has represented the Bundesliga side on 134 occasions, contributing 47 goals and 46 assists in the process.
PSG, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City are also believed to be admirers of the attacker, who is widely expected to be in the France squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Matt Law
