His Paris Saint-Germain career may have flopped but Christopher Nkunku has been taking the Bundesliga by storm.
Nkunku has been the bright spark amid RB Leipzig's dismal start to the season. The playmaker has shone for the Bundesliga side as he enjoyed sensational performances to kickstart his 2021-22 season.
But his highlight so far undoubtedly came in Leipzig's Champions League group-stage clash with Manchester City last month.
The Frenchman was probably left not knowing whether to laugh or cry after he scored a hat-trick but Leipzig eventually succumbed to a crushing 6-3 defeat.
Christopher Nkunku has lit up the pitch for RB Leipzig with a sensational start to the season
With two headers and an emphatic right-footed finish, the 23-year-old became the first player from Leipzig to score a Champions League hat-trick as well as the second player to do so against the Citizens, after only Lionel Messi - not bad company.
'I scored three goals, but each time they immediately scored again,' bemoaned Nkunku after a bittersweet night at the Etihad Stadium. 'We needed to be better and stay focused.'
His prodigious quality hasn't been limited to the Champions League, however, as he has found the net nine times and recorded three assists in 10 games in all competitions so far this season.
Nkunku scored a hat-trick in Leipzig's 6-3 loss to Man City in the Champions League last month
It's no great surprise either that he has been on firing form, given his 12-goal and 27-assist contribution in 84 appearances over the past two seasons.
Nkunku can do business across the pitch as a No 10, No 8 or a winger. He began life as a winger, but has proved more effective through the middle.
There he can expand his range of passing options while maintaining his ability to dribble past his marker with quick feet and core strength.
With such versatility at his disposal, Red Bull boss Jesse Marsch has claimed that Nkunku has 'no weaknesses'.
'We have spoken to Christopher a lot about playing on the counter, and also what he needs to do to play as a striker, a No 10 and on both wings,' Marsch said via the club website.
'Christopher has no weaknesses. He is young and still wants a lot more.
The Frenchman scored Leipzig's second goal in their 3-0 Bundesliga win over Bochum
'It's always a good thing when a young player listens to the things we say and also wants to implement them.
'Working with him is a lot of fun as he is really intelligent and has a lot of potential.'
Unsurprisingly, his impressive Leipzig career has caught the attention of Europe's upper echelons. An elite trio of Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are said to be chasing the Frenchman.
Real are the strongest contenders for Nkunku's signature as Los Blancos have reportedly been offered the chance to sign the midfielder next summer.
According to Mundo Deportivo in Spain,
