Ralf Rangnick has criticized Christopher Nkunku, saying that the RB Leipzig star’s £63million move to Chelsea this summer is “far too early”.

Nkunku, who has been Leipzig’s star man this campaign with 17 goals across all competitions, penned a pre-contract agreement to join Chelsea at the end of the season back in December.

The Frenchman’s move was the first statement signing under then-boss Graham Potter and preceded a January window of heavy spending from owner Todd Boehly, who splurged £323m in one month on new additions including Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Despite the mid-season rebuild, Chelsea continued to suffer on the pitch and axed Potter as a result, placing former head coach Frank Lampard in charge on an interim basis until the end of the campaign.

The Blues, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid last week, sit 11th in the Premier League and haven’t won a match in all competitions since early March.

Former Leipzig boss Rangnick has criticised Nkunku’s decision to join the struggling London giants and believes he made the decision “far too early”.

Rangnick held a close relationship with Nkunku after the France international signed for Leipzig in 2019.

“At the moment, no matter who comes as a coach, you can’t really recommend anyone to go there (to Chelsea),” he told the ZDF sports studio via German newspaper Bild.

“The very first thing to do is establish some sort of strategy and reduce the squad to a reasonable size that any coach can work with.

“I’m also thinking of a player whose commitment to RB Leipzig I was at least a little involved in – Christopher Nkunku – for me one of the best attacking midfielders currently available. And who, in my opinion, decided to move to Chelsea far too early.

“Imagine he comes to a club that is in the state it is at the moment. Such an outstanding player. This hurts my heart personally. If I were his advisor or his father, I would be very worried right now.”