‘Tottenham and Chelsea don’t do business’ – surprise deal rejected
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur’s rivalry will immediately put the brakes on a potential transfer for Christopher Nkunku.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said that the chances of Spurs signing Nkunku are slim at the very best.
Nkunku is destined for the exit door at Stamford Bridge and could even be on Arsenal’s transfer shortlist this summer, after Football Insider revealed on 11 May that Nkunku is “fully expected” to leave Chelsea.
However, Robinson told Football Insider that a similar move across London to arch-rivals Tottenham is “never happening”, simply due to the animosity which exists between the two clubs on and off the pitch.
Richarlison looks set to be on his way out of the Tottenham hotspur Stadium this summer, but Robinson wasn’t optimistic that the out-of-favour Chelsea forward would be an improvement on the Brazilian.
Christopher Nkunku transfer a non-starter at Tottenham
Nkunku’s availability has alerted other Champions League-bound Premier League clubs this summer, with Chelsea highly unlikely to break even on the £52million they paid RB Leipzig for him in 2023.
Speaking on the latest Inside Track, Robinson urged Tottenham not to “risk overpaying” for Nkunku as a replacement for Richarlison, and had his doubts over the Frenchman’s ability to perform consistently.
“Never happening – Spurs and Chelsea don’t do business, they don’t like each other“, Robinson told Football Insider.
“Nkunku isn’t good enough to carry that number nine role at Tottenham. They will look for a number nine again this year, I think.
“Without Richarlison, they may need another attacking player or an out-and-out nine, and Nkunku for me is not the answer.
“They would [risk] overpaying for somebody who wouldn’t score the goals, wouldn’t play regularly, and those two clubs don’t do business anyway.”
Tottenham to look elsewhere in new striker transfer raid
Although Nkunku has only managed six goals in 38 Premier League appearances across two injury-hit seasons for Chelsea, both Arsenal and Liverpool are increasingly keen on the French international.
Tottenham, however, look set to turn their attention away from Nkunku given their rocky relationship with Chelsea, and will heighten their efforts to sign a new number nine if Richarlison does depart this summer.
Spurs were in the hunt to sign Feyenoord frontman Zepiqueno Redmond on a free transfer, but with the teenager set to choose Aston Villa instead, the search will continue as Tottenham try to find their next Harry Kane.