Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has been advised he would be ‘mad’ to leave Stamford Bridge amid rumours that Manchester United are interested in snapping him up this January.

Nkunku joined Chelsea in a £52m move from RB Leipzig in 2023, but his first season was unfortunately hampered by injuries, limiting him to just 11 Premier League appearances.

Fast forward to this season, and the 26-year-old seems to be back to his best, showcasing his class with 10 goals in 16 appearances. However, most of these goals have come in the Europa Conference League and Carabao Cup, as Nkunku has only made one league start under new boss Enzo Maresca.

As Chelsea fans, we’ve seen Nkunku forced to play backup to rising stars like Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, and Cole Palmer, sparking rumors of frustration and a potential move away from west London.

Manchester United, who are reportedly keen to bolster their attacking options, have been linked with a January move for the French international. But former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has made it clear he believes leaving would be a mistake for Nkunku.

“His start to life at the club was quite tough when he suffered his injury, and we don’t know if he’s fully over that yet,” Johnson told Betfred.

“In spells, we’ve seen some really good stuff from him, and as Chelsea are going in the right direction, he would be mad to jump ship now.”

Johnson’s words ring true. Chelsea have indeed been moving in the right direction under Maresca, and fans are eager to see Nkunku play a bigger role in the squad.

“They’re in a much better position now, and if he can get fit and get himself in the starting eleven, then Chelsea have a good player on their hands. He just doesn’t look fully fit yet,” Johnson added.

Nkunku has shown glimpses of his incredible potential, and it’s clear that if he stays, he could become a crucial player in Chelsea’s journey back to the top of English football.