Christopher Nkunku could not replicate his lively RB Leipzig displays as he made his France debut against the Ivory Coast on Friday, amid transfer interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.
Didier Deschamps thrust the 24-year-old into the Bleus line-up at the Stade de France. But it was goals from Olivier Giroud and Aurelien Tchouameni that overturned Nicolas Pepe’s early effort to open the scoring. The Gunners winger broke the deadlock after 19 minutes.
Pepe burst into the box and drilled in low from a tight angle at Hugo Lloris’ near post after great footwork to create a gap to Lucas Hernandez. Yet ex-Arsenal star Giroud needed just three minutes to respond, heading in Theo Hernandez’s cross before Nkunku headed over.
Nkunku enjoyed his best chance of the night on 31 minutes, but could not keep his header under the bar. Deschamps started the RB Leipzig livewire with Giroud, with Kylian Mbappe on the bench. But he did not see the same form that Nkunku has shown in the Bundesliga.
The Lagny-sur-Marne native has 26 goals and assisted 15 over 39 games in all competitions so far this term. Of his strikes, 15 and 11 assists have come in 27 German top-flight games. Enough for ESPN to cite Arsenal and Liverpool as eying transfers for RB Leipzig’s Nkunku.
Die Roten Bullen also now value their Paris Saint-Germain product at €75m (£62.5m), Bild report. But CEO Oliver Mintzlaff will still meet bids in that region with a reluctance to sell.
Arsenal, Liverpool target Nkunku slammed for ‘disappointing’ 4/10 France debut
Nkunku captivated Deschamps with his form in Germany to earn his maiden call-up to the France squad this month. But despite Les Bleus beating the Ivory Coast, the Arsenal and Liverpool target failed to thrive in a 4/10 display to earn criticism from the French media.
“Mobile, very active and altruistic for his first appearance with the jersey hit by the Rooster on the shoulders,” Foot Mercato wrote. “The former PSG player delivered a disappointing performance.
“Quite discreet when we could legitimately expect more from him. Rather friable in the duel, he at least compensated with his boundless energy. Note that he could have scored his first goal for his big first [game].”
Nkunku will hope to earn his second France cap when Deschamps’ side host South Africa on Tuesday. He had previously only represented his nation at U16 through to U21 levels.
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