
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has predicted that Chelsea will sell “talented” forward Christopher Nkunku during the January transfer window, following his struggles to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for £52m after a prolific spell at RB Leipzig, has faced significant challenges in his time at the club. Despite scoring 58 goals in his final two years in Germany and winning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in 2022, the Frenchman has yet to make a lasting impact in the Premier League.
Injuries plagued Nkunku’s debut season, limiting him to just 14 appearances in all competitions. While he has returned to fitness this term, he has struggled to secure regular playing time under Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. The 27-year-old has started only three Premier League games, though he has excelled in cup competitions, scoring 10 goals in nine matches.
Speaking to NewBettingSites, Sutton expressed doubts about Nkunku’s future at Chelsea:
“I can see Christopher Nkunku leaving. Enzo Maresca seems reluctant to use his bench and Nkunku hasn’t had enough regular game-time.”
Sutton suggested that Nkunku’s position in the squad reflects Maresca’s opinion of the player:
“The fact he’s down the pecking order and not getting regular game time, it certainly tells you that Maresca thinks he’s OK, but you need more than OK if you want to push for the Premier League title.”
He added: “He had that horrific injury but unless you get regular game-time, it’s really difficult to find that rhythm. He is a talented player but it looks like another one where it’s just not going to happen for him at Chelsea.”