RB Leipzig is set for the return of Christopher Nkunku and is closing in on a deal for striker Marc Guiu. The club, which finished third in the Bundesliga last season with 65 points, aims to further strengthen its attack.
Nkunku, 28, returns on loan from AC Milan and will be in the squad for the Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach. He will wear the number 28 jersey as the number 18 is taken by Suleman Sani. "When the opportunity to move to RB Leipzig arose, I absolutely wanted to take this chance," Nkunku said. In parallel, talks are ongoing over a permanent transfer for 20-year-old Spaniard Marc Guiu from FC Chelsea. A future sell-on clause for Chelsea is said to be part of the deal. SSC Napoli had also shown interest.
What is the club's transfer balance?
The club has already generated over 170 million euros in transfer income this summer. The sale of Yan Diomande to Madrid alone brought in 125 million euros. So far, around 50 million euros have been invested in new signings. Beyond Nkunku, the attack is to be further reinforced. However, planned moves for Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim and Said El-Mala from 1. FC Köln have fallen through. RB Leipzig is now targeting Belgian striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo but faces significant competition.
Marco Rose's team faces 12th-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 29. Their final five games of last season yielded the form LWLWW. The full season saw 66 goals scored and 47 conceded. Upcoming challenges are already scheduled in a demanding Champions League group with Manchester City, PSV Eindhoven, Shakhtar Donetsk and RC Lens, featuring away trips to Real Madrid and Manchester City and a possible journey to Azerbaijan. You can check the full squad and schedule on our squad and fixtures pages.
What's happening with the RB Leipzig women's team?
The women's team under coach Jonas Stephan began the season with a 0:2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. Their next match is on Sunday at 18:30 against Werder Bremen. A potential injury concern looms as striker Sandra Starke twisted her foot in training. Her potential replacement is new signing Zenia Mertens, who joined from 1. FC Köln in the summer and has been appointed vice-captain. "If we push ourselves to our performance limit in Bremen, we can get points there too," Stephan said. The team is embarking on its 11th Bundesliga season.
What other news is there?
The U19s drew 2:2 with FC Porto in the RBL-Cup. Young professionals Ayodele Thomas and Suleman Sani featured in the match. The club presented new Champions League jerseys. The away kit, inspired by Leipzig's nightlife, is priced at 99.95 euros. There are also changes at the stadium: a new provider is handling catering at the Red Bull Arena. The price of a bratwurst has increased, but the price of beer remains unchanged.
RB Leipzig enters the new season with a reinforced squad. The return of Nkunku and the potential signing of Guiu are intended to boost the firepower of a team that finished 24 points behind champions Bayern Munich last term. The current standings show the competition remains fierce. Immediate tests follow with the league opener and a tough Champions League group.
