When he arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Leipzig, for 60 million euros, Christopher Nkunku was to embody the revival of the Blues. The symbol of an ambitious project. A year later, Enzo Maresca at the helm of the London club preferred Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho to the French striker. So much so that the former Parisian is content with appearances in the Premier League (only 154 minutes since the start of the season) and starts in the Conference League.
However, the man who has just been called up to the Blues for the second consecutive rally can boast of being Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions, with 10 goals already on the clock. And his coach praised the patience, versatility and talent of his player, again last week: “ I feel bad for Christo because during the preseason he was probably our best player while playing his position. But we have to adapt and we had to put him in the forefront, knowing that he is not a No. 9…
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Return to Paris, five years later…
Comforting words, certainly, but which suggest that the London horizon is hopelessly blocked for the 26-year-old will-o-the-wisp. “ Christo is in the same situation as Joao Felix. If they continue to work like they are, they will get playing time back in the Premier League. We need a balance. We can’t play with Joao, Cole and Christo. I wish I could line them all up together but you also have to defend. This is the only reason », insists Enzo Maresca.
Under contract with the Blues until 2029, Christopher Nkunku could be tempted by a new challenge capable of offering him more playing time. Especially since Manchester United according to the English press has already received information concerning him. L’Equipe this Monday suggests another possible avenue, and not the least: a return to the past to reconnect with PSG. “
Nkunku ticks a lot of boxes in the capital’s new project: French, trained in Paris, equipped with a collective mindset, versatile and still young. The sporting impasse in which the player finds himself could turn into an opportunity », notes the sports daily.
