When it comes to the transfer window and Chelsea, many not of a Chelsea persuasion believe Todd Boehley and Clearlake just splash the cash but ultimately, it isn’t true.
The last window saw Chelsea spend the best part of £300m on 10 new players, including Jorrel Hato, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Many felt Chelsea had overspent again. In truth, they sold as much as they spent.
Chelsea raked in a similar figure, having sold 14 players permanently in the summer, also receiving loan fees too. Noni Madueke was Chelsea’s biggest sale, while Joao Felix joined Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
If Chelsea only make one signing in January, who should it be?👀
Vinicius Jr. is off the table…
Vinicius Jr. hasn't had talks with Chelsea
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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Another was France international and former Leipzig talisman Christopher Nkunku, who had failed to get going at Chelsea due to injuries and the competition in the final third under manager Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea sold Christopher Nkunku to Milan for £36m in summer
Nkunku joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Leipzig for north of £50m, but he would go on to score just 18 goals in 62 appearances during a two-year stint. Only six goals came in the Premier League.
Christopher Nkunku centre-forward of AC Milan and France during the warm-up
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Unsurprisingly, Maresca gave the green light in the summer when Milan offered £36m for the striker and it has been a struggle in Italy, too. Until December 28, Nkunku had failed to score a Serie A goal.
But he netted a brace in a 3-0 win over Verona in Milan’s final game before the turn of the year, and on Sunday, he equalised as Milan drew 1-1 with Fiorentina after replacing West Ham loanee Niclas Fullkrug.
After being slipped in by Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana but with the ball going away from goal, Nkunku still managed to hammer the ball into the roof of the net in the 89th minute away at Fiorentina.
Would YOU have sold Christopher Nkunku? 🎯
He's getting back to his best
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Perhaps, Chelsea are lacking that experienced head in attack
Marquee signing Pedro is still only 23 after spells at Watford and Brighton, while Delap is only 22. Marc Guiu, who scored for Chelsea on Saturday in the 5-1 win over Charlton, is just 20 years of age currently.
Three excellent strikers that all offer something a bit different. But when the Blues require a bit of know-how, some experience in attack when chasing a game, surely Chelsea could do with an experienced head.
Nkunku might have been perfect for Chelsea this season, a player who has now played in four different countries and a player who clocked up his 338th club outing on Sunday. Now, he’s showing his quality.
Chelsea fans only got to see it now and then and now, Milan supporters are starting to see it. There is a serious striker in Nkunku, whether he can do it in Italian football remains to be seen, with Milan.
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