Christopher Nkunku was a very thrilling signed when he arrived at Chelsea, and the payment we paid for him (£52m) was truly a little bit of a snip within the grand scheme of issues.
However my pleasure has been reserved after a season of accidents for the attacking midfielder. It’s been so disappointing to barely see him on his debut season.
Nkunku has made 13 appearances for Chelsea this season, which is really tragic however has been a part of a wider damage drawback on the membership.
At Chelsea, he has been lacking for 242 days by means of a knee damage, health, hip damage, and hamstring damage.
Earlier than he arrived at Chelsea, the longest he had missed with damage was 83 days. He had accidents, positive, however none of them have been that long run.
He’s been a shadow of the participant we all know in his appearances for us this season, and that will likely be right down to health. He’s usually gone misplaced, particularly when he was requested to play as a 9. I’ve by no means seen him as a 9, I’ve seen him extra as a ten, or a large participant.
I’m staying reserved with my pleasure, however on the similar time, Nkunku for me can now lock down that left hand facet for subsequent season.
I nonetheless suppose Chelsea have to signal one other winger this summer time, as a result of I need to see Raheem Sterling offered, and I’m removed from satisfied about Mykhailo Mudryk or Noni Madueke.
One other talisman
However Nkunku confirmed within the Brighton recreation final night time that not solely can he fill in large on the left, he may be SUPERB large on the left. He simply oozes high quality and is similar stage as Cole Palmer. None of our different attackers are as shut as these two for pure high quality and ranges – these two can simply very quickly be classed as constant world class gamers, IF they keep match (extra for Nkunku) and preserve the excessive ranges of performances.
Palmer has usually been the talisman this season and has been the man to save lots of us and the one we depend on far an excessive amount of. I mentioned he’s wanted assist, and Nkunku may be that assist, he can share that burden of being the one to make issues occur in these artistic areas of the pitch. He has all of it about his recreation identical to Palmer. He performs with such confidence and perception in his capacity, and the way in which he strikes and controls the ball is simply so pure and simple to him. He’s an excellent tidy and intelligent participant who retains the ball so nicely.
I’d be completely happy at hand him the keys to that left attacking midfield function for subsequent season, however I’d nonetheless be trying so as to add in a brand new winger as nicely. I’d be trying now at a winger who can play on both facet and have the identical impression.
The fantastic thing about all of that is we’ve flexibility and choices now with Palmer and Nkunku mainly having the ability to play centrally, proper, or on the left, so we may be fairly open if we’re going to add in a brand new winger.
Though, we’ve SO many wingers on our books now and are about to signal one other in Estevao Willian. Then there’s Omari Hutchinson, Kendry Paez, and Angelo simply to call some extra.
So will it’s sensible to really wait on a few of these guys to return although? I’m unsure, however my instincts says we’d like a brand new prepared made winger now if we actually need to push on.
