After majorly missing out on his first Chelsea season due to injury, this 2024/25 season has been Christopher Nkunku’s first as a fully fit Blue.
Many expected that his return would mean another guaranteed starter for Chelsea, specifically in the Premier League. However, that has not been the case.
There have been whispers and concerns surrounding Nkunku’s future at Chelsea.
Limited minutes and limited impact
Nkunku has played only 163 minutes in the Premier League, with his only start coming from the opening fixture against Manchester City.
Of the 12 Premier League games Chelsea have played this season, the striker has been involved in eleven, with ten of those coming off the bench. He has often come on as a replacement for starting striker Nicolas Jackson.
The Frenchman’s other starts have come from other competitions, with Maresca starting him in every UEFA Conference League and Carabao Cup game thus far.
In his limited game time, particularly in the Premier League, Nkunku has made an impact on the scoresheet. He is Chelsea’s top scorer, with 10. 6 of his goals have come from the European fixtures.
Despite him leading the goal-scoring tally for the Blues, it can be argued that Nkunku has not been a particularly bright spark for his side. His performances have been underwhelming, even when he has managed to get his name on the scoresheet.
Transfer possibility
There have been rumours that Nkunku is debating leaving Chelsea for a club that would guarantee him more minutes, particularly in the Premier League, with Manchester United allegedly taking an interest.
Having shined in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig, the Frenchman may be happy to hear Borrusia Dortmund are reportedly also monitoring the situation.
However, Enzo Maresca has recently stated that Nkunku is still very much a part of his plans.
“Absolutely, yes I completely want Christo to stay with us. I don’t have any idea to allow him to go in January.” – Enzo Maresca at the pre-match conference ahead of Chelsea’s Heidenheim game.
How Nkunku can help Chelsea
“Probably the best moment from Christo for us was in pre-season. For me that was because he was playing in his position, which is as a No.10 behind the striker, between the lines.” – Enzo Maresca.
That is the position fit for a playmaker, a role Nkunku has yet to prove himself as in a Chelsea shirt. However, as Maresca also stated, he has more often played out front as the sole striker and has also featured on the wing – an unlikely position for the Frenchman.
But seeing as Cole Palmer plays in the number 10 position, Nkunku has often been sidelined in the Englishman’s place and settled for the number 9 position.
“Since we started the season, he is often playing as a nine for us. He also played the first Premier League game against Manchester City from the start as a winger, and we know that it’s not his best position.”
“We are not going to play many games with Cole and Christo, or with Cole and João [Félix].
“We did it the other day, but you need balance and the Leicester plan won’t be the same as the Aston Villa plan. Or maybe it will, we don’t know, because now we are focused on this game against Heidenheim.”
The Italian also mentioned that he will be implementing new ideas that may suit Nkunku, alongside his teammates:
“Christo is the same as I have mentioned many times about Joao. If you play with Cole, João, Christo, Noni [Madueke] and Jadon [Sancho], who is defending? Their skill and their strength is not defending, it is to attack. We love them but also we need balance.
“They are all fantastic players, they are all going to play games no doubt, but not every game. The last game we tried with João and Cole together, hopefully soon we can try with Christo and Cole together, Christo and João together, because we have so many games.
“João Félix played the Premier League game the other day against Leicester and Christo for sure is going to play Premier League games. But we have many players, we try to share minutes with all of them. We have so many games, especially now in December.
“The ones who play in the Premier League can play in the Conference League and the ones who play in the Conference League can play in the Premier League. The proof was against Leicester.”
Why Maresca’s plan is foolproof
Enzo Maresca has undoubtedly turned Chelsea’s fate around.
Players who struggled to make their mark under the likes of Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino have completely transformed under Enzo Maresca.
If there’s one thing that has seemed to work out well for Chelsea is Maresca’s choice to omit some players from the starting XI – players that would start under Pochettino.
A clear example is Mykhalio Mudryk who frequently featured on the left wing under previous management. Poor performances weren’t enough to land him on the bench then, but the approach has been different since Maresca’s arrival.
Players who have been unable to perform have often seen themselves being left out of Premier League matchday squads or have been left on the bench.
In Mudryk’s case, he has gone from being a guaranteed starter at Chelsea to a player fighting for the spot back. In his appearances in the Conference League, as the season has progressed, Mudryk has been showing signs of improvement.
Players in the same conundrum as Mudryk have clearly shown that they want a spot in the Starting XI and that they know they have to earn it.
Even a high-profile player like Nkunku has had to prove himself and is still fighting to prove himself. He is a player with massive potential, and one that would be of great use to Chelsea.
Maresca has given Nkunku a challenge, but it may be one that will have him come out the other side much stronger. Should the results be fruitful, it is not just Nkunku that will greatly benefit, but Chelsea as a whole.