Christopher Nkunku destined for Chelsea exit

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 22 Nov 2024 11:58 GMT
• 4 min read

Christopher Nkunku may be forced to leave Chelsea next year after Enzo Maresca’s recent praise of both Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

The France international moved to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig in 2023, but he endured an injury-hit debut campaign in west London and he is now a member of Chelsea’s second-string outfit, despite a promising pre-season under Enzo Maresca.

Nkunku hasn’t started a Premier League game since Chelsea’s opening day defeat to Manchester City, with Maresca favouring Jackson as his central striker and Palmer in a No.10 role.

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The 27-year-old has been restricted to starts in the Carabao Cup and the Europa Conference League, while he has only tallied 96 minutes of Premier League action since being substituted against Man City in mid-August.

Although several outlets insist that Nkunku remains happy at Chelsea, some reports have suggested that he will push to leave Stamford Bridge in 2025 if his game time continues to be limited.

French publication L’Equipe have revealed that Nkunku is considering his future with the Blues, while The Athletic report that although he hasn’t verbalised any complaints to the club, the 27-year-old isn’t best pleased with his current situation.

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Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for the France star following Ruben Amorim’s arrival, and the Red Devils could push to sign Nkunku during the January transfer window amid his struggles at Chelsea.

The Frenchman is currently Chelsea’s top goalscorer in all competitions, with 10, but he appears destined to leave the club in 2025.

The Blues remain interested in signing Nigeria international Victor Osimhen, while Maresca is a huge fan of Jackson and Shim Mheuka could soon break into the first-team set-up after a promising start to the campaign in Chelsea’s U21 side.

What has Enzo Maresca said?

Despite Nkunku’s impressive goalscoring record so far this season, the Frenchman is unlikely to usurp Jackson as Chelsea’s starting striker following Maresca’s recent comments.

Ahead of the Blues’ trip to face Leicester City, Maresca told TNT Sports: “First of all, he's [Jackson] helping us a lot in the way we want to play because he is dropping, he is linking, and he is doing fantastic.

“Everyone, probably, at the beginning, no one expected this from Nico. [But] he's doing very well then in terms of numbers - he is scoring goals [and] assisting. Since the start, the way we want to press - going man to man – it's always aggressive, it's always there. He is doing fantastic.”

Maresca also heaped praise on the “humble” and “professional” Palmer, following the Englishman’s eye-catching first few months of the campaign.

As a result, Nkunku may be destined to leave Chelsea, with Jackson and Palmer unlikely to be dropped at any point soon.