Chelsea are expected to sell one of their big investments of recent yearsChelsea are expected to sell one of their big investments of recent years
Chelsea are expected to sell one of their big investments of recent years | Getty Images
Chelsea are being tipped to sell one of their priciest players this summer.
Enzo Maresca has set the standard for success at reaching UEFA’s premier competition, but he has also pointed out that the Blues are better off than they have been in recent years regardless.
Chelsea have invested significantly in their squad over recent years, and that spending is likely to continue this summer as they look to take another step towards becoming Premier League title candidates. A striker is going to be their main priority this summer, and that’s despite Nicolas Jackson regaining some form of late.
Jackson endured a double-figure goal drought over the early spring, and Maresca is likely to want better competition to get the best out of him, with Christopher Nkunku having failed to fulfil that role. Nkunku had a solid start to this season, but it quickly became clear that he was not what Maresca wanted in a forward.
Chelsea paid £52million for Nkunku in 2023, and it’s likely they will take a hit on that fee should they sell this summer, but Sky Sports Germany have reported that there is no doubt that Nkunku will leave the club ahead of next season.
Maresca has spoken of struggling to find Nkunku’s best position. The Chelsea boss said back in November: “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.
“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 know that Christo’s best position is between the lines as a 10, but Cole [Palmer] is playing there, and we are not going to play many games with Cole and Christo, or with Cole and Joao [Felix].”
Nkunku’s first season at the club was marred by injury, and coming into this season, he was motivated to establish himself, saying: “To be honest, I don’t have the feeling I had a first season here,’ admits Nkunku. ‘It was very difficult. I played just a little bit. Some minutes here, some minutes there. I was very frustrated all the season.
“Last year I didn’t have one moment in the season where I can say I felt good. After my knee injury, I didn’t feel like I now do. I had my knee, then my hip, then a muscle injury in a row. It never stopped. That’s why I was very frustrated. The most important thing now is to be ready to work and to be happy in myself,’ he adds. ‘I wasn’t happy for one year, so the most important thing is to be happy. You cannot share moments with fans if you are not happy.”
Since then, he has scored 14 and assisted five in 42 games as a regular for the Blues, but he hasn’t found his best form in the second half of the season, and Maresca appears to want something different, with Nkunku a pricey enough asset to help fund whatever that may be.
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