RB Leipzig join the long list of suitors for Kenedy — report

Another Bundesliga club has joined the race to acquire the recently very much in-demand Kenedy.

According to a recent report by Goal’s Chelsea correspondent, Nizaar Kinsella, RB Leipzig have joined the long list of clubs that wish to acquire the 22-year-old from Chelsea this summer, namely Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and big bad Bayern Munich. (Oh and Newcastle, too. Sorry, Newcastle, almost forgot about you there!)

Kenedy has flourished in the second half of the season on loan at the Magpies. Finally freed from the shackles of being shoe-horned into a wing-back role at Chelsea, he has been able to showcase his skills in a more attacking role under the tutelage of Rafa Benitez. (Ed.note: that’s a bit of an odd statement considering Benitez’s reputation for structured, defensive football, but here we are, another Rafalution miracle!)

After joining Newcastle in the winter transfer window, Kenedy has effectively utilized the 1000 or so minutes he has received, notching up two assists and two goals — with both the goals arriving in a Man of the Match performance against Southampton in Newcastle’s dominant 3-0 win over the Saints.

RB Leipzig, like all the other aforementioned clubs would want to acquire Kenedy permanently, while Newcastle may be willing to settle (or be forced to settle due to financial considerations) for a loan. With Leipzig ready to collect untold millions for Naby Keita and potentially for Emil Forsberg as well, they will certainly have the funds to restock their impressive supply of talent.

If Chelsea were to sell, we’d stand to make a tidy profit on the paltry sum of £6.3 million paid back in 2015 to Fluminense. Ideally, Kenedy would stay and play, but right now, it’s still quite difficult to see Kenedy wanting to actually continue at Chelsea, even if Conte does get the boot, especially as his friends Willian and David Luiz may be on the way out as well.