Milan Ready to Cut Ties With Christopher Nkunku as January Exit Plan Emerges
Nkunku has had a difficult start to life at Milan.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 22 December 2025
Milan have already lost patience with misfiring striker Christopher Nkunku as a January exit plan emerges, according to reports.
Milan to ask Pini Zahavi to find buyer for Christopher Nkunku as January exit on cards
Nkunku only joined Milan in August from Chelsea, penning a five-year contract in a deal reported around €42million.
Four months on, and the Frenchman is yet to score a goal in Serie A, and has managed just one Coppa Italia strike.
Milan’s staff expected a game-changer, but instead, they have a forward still searching for identity in Massimiliano Allegri’s system.
“Bocciato” is the bold Italian word Calciomercato have used to sum up Nkunku’s situation. This means ‘rejected’ or ‘failed’.
Behind the scenes, the club now appear ready to treat his situation as a market opportunity rather than a project which requires patience.
According to the report, a direct meeting with super-agent Pini Zahavi has been scheduled before the end of the year.
Rossoneri sporting director Igli Tare will effectively ask Zahavi to find a buyers for Nkunku, with offers considered.
This suggests Milan are not simply open to offers, but actively outsourcing Nkunku’s exit strategy to the agent.
The Rossoneri are reportedly hoping that Zahavi can find a solution that satisfies all parties.
Their goal is to recoup the €38million they spent on Nkunku over the summer. This is the transfer fee without add-ons.
Nkunku’s exit would give Milan the means to acquire an additional striker in addition to Niclas Fullkrug.
It would also help them increase their budget for other acquisitions.
Nkunku himself is also considering his future, mindful of the fact he could fail to make the France team for the World Cup if he continues to struggle.
Milan’s striker plans are forcing an early decision
Milan’s situation up front is precarious, with injuries and form issues pushing the club towards solutions in the market.
They are already moving for Fullkrug, which underlines the sense that Allegri wants a different profile right away.
If Fullkrug arrives, minutes for a misfiring Nkunku become harder to justify, especially given the size of the investment.
Reports have also floated interest from Saudi Arabia, a market more capable of matching wages if European buyers don’t show interest.
FootItalia previously reported about the coming weeks as a “final call” period, with Milan weighing alternatives and Allegri unconvinced.
While it would be a blow for Nkunku to leave Milan so soon, the gamble would pay off if he hits form elsewhere.
And with 2026 being a World Cup year, there is added pressure on Nkunku to get himself back to his best if he is to head to the United States with France.
Santiago Gimenez’s Milan future is also uncertain, with transfer interest doing the rounds about the Mexico international.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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