Yahoo Sports ESPN pundit sends warning to Chelsea ace and insists “he won’t play” if he swaps the Blues for this club
ESPN pundit Julien Laurens believes Christopher Nkunku would be making a mistake if he swapped Chelsea for Bayern Munich.
Nkunku arrived at Chelsea from German side RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £52m, with fans excited by the signing.
The 27-year-old impressed in pre-season under Mauricio Pochettino, but picked up an injury that ruled him out for over four months.
Nkunku advised not to join Bayern
Unfortunately Nkunku’s debut season was plauged by injuries and he was limited to just 14 appearances in all competitions as the Blues finished sixth.
Nkunku got himself fit over the summer and was once again a stand out performer in pre-season under Enzo Maresca, and it seemed he would be set for a key role as he started the first game of the season against Manchester City.
However, things haven’t gone to plan for the France international and he’s played second fiddle to Nicolas Jackson this season, starting just three games and scoring twice.
Nkuknu has scored 13 goals in all competitions, although the majority have come in the cup competitions, where he’s been a regular starter.
However, the former Leipzig man is thought to be unhappy with his game time and has been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich.
The Blues are also interested in Bayern teenager Mathys Tel, with the two deals said to be linked although it wouldn’t be a swap deal.
Chelsea are said to value Nkunku at around £65m, and he’s believed to have already agreed personal terms with Bayern, but Laurens feels he would be making a mistake if he joined Bayern.
“If [Nkunku] goes to Bayern he’s not going to play ahead of Harry Kane and he’s not a lone striker anyway,” he told ESPN.
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“He’s not going to play behind Harry Kane because that’s where Jamal Musiala plays and right now there’s no way you’d drop him to put Nkunku in.
“He can play wide, I guess, but he’s not the same threat as Michael Olise, Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry or Leroy Sane, he would go from being a sub at Chelsea to a sub at Bayern.”
