Chelsea star to consider surprise January exit due to Enzo Maresca decision: Reports

Christopher Nkunku is open to sealing a permanent switch away from Chelsea due to his limited playing time under Blues boss Enzo Maresca, as per journalist Ekrem Konur.

Nkunku, 26, has failed to establish himself as a first-team starter at the Blues since arriving from RB Leipzig for around £52 million in 2023. He featured in just 14 total matches for his club, netting three goals in the process, in the 2023-24 season due to a lengthy knee injury.

So far this campaign, Nkunku has started five of his 11 overall appearances for the Blues. He has scored seven goals in all competitions, but has scored just one goal in 126 minutes of action in the Premier League.

With just one league start to his name so far this campaign, the former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star could decide to leave next January. Should he leave, Chelsea would likely hand more minutes to Joao Felix.

Nkunku, who has a deal until June 2029 at the Stamford Bridge outfit, has bagged 10 goals in 25 games across all competitions for his club.

Former Chelsea star urges Enzo Maresca to give more playing time to 2 Blues stars

Speaking to Metro, ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin urged Enzo Maresca to give both Joao Felix and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall more minutes in the 2024-25 campaign. He elaborated:

"Enzo Maresca has started well. He's got a more stable-looking squad and style which wasn't there before. At the start of the season, I predicted top four for Chelsea which not many people went for but the basics are there now and they've got that quality in the squad."

Nevin, who represented the Blues 176 times as a player, continued:

"I'm a massive fan of Joao Felix. He's kind of been dismissed a bit by a lot of people but don't dismiss him. He needs to get a better run in the first team, perhaps when they need cover for Cole Palmer. There's no doubt he'll prove people wrong."

Opining on another summer signing, former Scotland star added:

"If you look further around that team, people like Dewsbury-Hall have not even got a game yet and he's great, a really, super player. He showed that in the Conference League a few weeks back and he surely needs more chances soon."

Since leaving Atletico Madrid for £46 million earlier this August, Felix has produced a goal and an assist in 283 minutes of action for Chelsea.

Dewsbury-Hall, on the other hand, has netted once in 403 minutes of action for the Blues since departing Leicester City for £30 million.