Nkunku too good to just be Chelsea’s UECL striker – Who could sign Frenchman in January?

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Chelsea’s top scorer this season 

©IMAGO

Enzo Maresca has had some start to his time at Stamford Bridge. After 12 games they are third in the Premier League, and boast a 100% record in the Europa Conference League. One of the Italians biggest achievements has been getting the best out of striker Nicolas Jackson, who has seven goals and three assists in 12 Premier League games, and has formed a formidable partnership with Chelsea’s star player Cole Palmer. However, in Europe, where Maresca opts for a highly-rotated line-up, Christopher Nkunku has been on fire, and the Frenchman is actually Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions with 11 goals across the board.

As illustrated in the graphic above, remarkably Nkunku has four more goals than any other Chelsea player in all comps so far this season. He is averaging a goal every 70 minutes for the Blues. Despite this, Nkunku has played just 163 minutes in the Premier League and hasn’t started a league game since Chelsea’s opener against Manchester City back in August. The 27 year old is simply too good to play such little football, and will no doubt be growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of game-time in the English top-flight. But with Jackson’s fine form, becoming Chelsea’s No.9 is a tough task at present, and it could force Nkunku to push for a move away from Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window.

Nkunku was signed from German side RB Leipzig for €60 million back in the summer of 2023, but was plagued with injury in his first season with Chelsea. He missed as many as 48 games for the Blues last term. However, this campaign he has managed to stay fit, and when given opportunities in cup competitions, the Frenchman is showing the kind of form that swayed Chelsea to splash out to bring him to west London. With the Bundesliga side, Nkunku scored 70 goals and provided 56 assists in 172 matches, and became a key player for France.

If Nkunku wants to get back in Didier Deschamps squad he is going to need to be playing regularly in the league, and with the form and quantity of the other attacking players in Chelsea’s squad, it’s hard to see his minutes significantly changing in the near future. However, we are entering a busy period in the English top-flight schedule, and the congestion of games could lead to more chances for Nkunku to show his worth in the Premier League. 

Speaking about Nkunku’s lack of minutes earlier this week, Maresca said: “I spoke to Christo days ago and he did not say he was unhappy. For sure, he would like to play minutes, but like many players. We have so many games, especially in December. Since we started, for me, there are not two squads – the squad is only one.” Nevertheless if things don’t change, Nkunku could be in a position where he may attempt to force a move away from Chelsea during this upcoming January Transfer window. He has a current market value of €65m.

Reports in early November suggested Manchester United had enquired about the Frenchman’s availability with a potential loan move even being mooted. PSG, where Nkunku started his career, have also been linked with bringing him back to Paris, and with many top clubs on the hunt for a top striker, Chelsea’s No.18 could be sought-after signing in this winter window. One thing for certain is that he is too good a talent to just be restricted to being the Blues’ Europa Conference League striker, and if more game-time doesn’t come his way, rumours of an exit will continue to persist.