Christopher Nkunku has started one league game all season, and has had limited time in the Premier League, with Nicolas Jackson as the club’s main striker.

Nkunku has been mostly used as a Cup player, and is said to be unhappy with his role at the club under Enzo Maresca.

According to reports, Nkunku has been linked with a move away from Chelsea, with Manchester United named as a potential suitor.

However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has said such claims are premature and unrealistic at this stage.

The transfer expert said: “Stories coming from very important sources about this, so obviously we respect everyone.

“But my understanding is that, first of all, in terms of names, Manchester United have not even started to talk to Ruben Amorim to say, ‘okay, let’s go for this player, let’s go for the other player in the January transfer window.’

“Why? Because now Ruben Amorim has just arrived. It’s two or three days in England. Two or three days in Manchester. New club, new place. So he’s adapting to everything.

“That means Manchester United, Ruben Amorim didn’t have any meeting to discuss transfer targets with the management at this stage.”

Nkunku has already scored 10 goals for Chelsea but only one of them in the Premier League.