- Maresca admitted that Nkunku may not remain at Stamford Bridge next season
- The forward scored 14 goals last season but could not nail down a starting sport
- LISTEN to Whistleblowers: Are Arsenal fans right to think they’ve been aggrieved by the fixtures?
Enzo Maresca has admitted that Christopher Nkunku may leave Chelsea in the summer as the forward edges towards an exit from Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United are reportedly interested in securing the Frenchman’s signature and the Blues appear ready to part with him, despite signing the 27-year-old on a six-year deal for a hefty £52.7million just two years ago.
The Red Devils have already made contact with Nkunku, according to L’Equipe, while a swap deal with United outcast Alejandro Garnacho heading the other way has been touted.
Speaking after Chelsea’s final Club World Cup group game, a 3-0 win over ES Tunis, Maresca failed to offer any guarantees over his future, revealing ‘anything can happen’ in the window.
The Italian boss said: ‘If Christo [Nkunku] is here with us, it is because we think he can help us and he can be with us even next season. But as you said, there are many speculations, not just about Christo, about many players.
‘And then if something is going to happen, I don’t know because we said many times when the transfer window is open, anything can happen in terms of players that can arrive or players that can leave.’
Nkunku moved to Chelsea in 2023 after starring at RB Leipzig, where he netted 70 goals and claimed 55 assists in 172 appearances, earning admirers across Europe’s top clubs.
But his first season in west London was disrupted by injuries and he was restricted to just 14 appearances.
Last season he scored 14 goals in 43 matches, netting every 48 minutes, but only three came in the league.
He is a natural number 10 or second striker, but the 27-year-old has never risen above Cole Palmer in the pecking order.
Nor could he displace Nicolas Jackon and Maresca has even brought in Liam Delap to bolster his attacking ranks.
Delap’s signing, compounded with his first goal for the club on Tuesday night, indicates that Nkunku could be moved on in the summer.
Meanwhile, the former Leipzig striker stepped up to take a second half penalty but it was overuled by VAR against ES Tunis.
Chelsea had previously placed a £60m price tag on the forward during the January transfer window amid interest from Bayern Munich, but he opted to remain at the club.
