Nkunku proved he can be top option on the left for Chelsea – Talk Chelsea

Christopher Nkunku was a truly exciting signed when he arrived at Chelsea, and the fee we paid for him (£52m) was actually a bit of a snip in the grand scheme of things.

But my excitement has been reserved after a season of injuries 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 truly tragic but has been part of a wider injury problem at the club.

At Chelsea, he has been missing for 242 days through a knee injury, fitness, hip injury, and hamstring injury.

Before he arrived at Chelsea, the longest he had missed with injury was 83 days. He had injuries, sure, but none of them were that long term.

He’s been a shadow of the player we know in his appearances for us this season, and that will be down to fitness. He’s often gone lost, especially when he was asked to play as a 9. I’ve never seen him as a 9, I’ve seen him more as a 10, or a wide player.

I’m staying reserved with my excitement, but at the same time, Nkunku for me can now lock down that left hand side for next season.

I still think Chelsea need to sign another winger this summer, because I want to see Raheem Sterling sold, and I’m far from convinced about Mykhailo Mudryk or Noni Madueke.

Another talisman

But Nkunku showed in the Brighton game last night that not only can he fill in wide on the left, he can be SUPERB wide on the left. He just oozes quality and is the same level as Cole Palmer. None of our other attackers are as close as those two for natural quality and levels – these two can easily very soon be classed as consistent world class players, IF they stay fit (more for Nkunku) and keep the high levels of performances.

Palmer has often been the talisman this season and has been the guy to save us and the one we rely on far too much. I said he’s needed help, and Nkunku can be that help, he can share that burden of being the one to make things happen in those creative areas of the pitch. He has it all about his game just like Palmer. He plays with such confidence and belief in his ability, and the way he moves and controls the ball is just so natural and easy to him. He’s a super tidy and clever player who keeps the ball so well.

I’d be happy to hand him the keys to that left attacking midfield role for next season, but I’d still be looking to add in a new winger as well. I’d be looking now at a winger who can play on either side and have the same impact.

The beauty of all of this is we have flexibility and options now with Palmer and Nkunku basically being able to play centrally, right, or on the left, so we can be quite open if we are going to add in a new winger.

Although, we have SO many wingers on our books now and are about to sign another in Estevao Willian. Then there’s Omari Hutchinson, Kendry Paez, and Angelo just to name some more.

So will it be smart to actually wait on some of these guys to come though? I’m not sure, but my instincts says we need a new ready made winger now if we really want to push on.