Chelsea have begun preliminary discussions with Bayern Munich regarding a potential swap deal that could see Christopher Nkunku traded for 19-year-old Mathys Tel. The young Bayern forward, who has only started two Bundesliga matches this season, has struggled for game time under Vincent Kompany, often starting on the bench.
Despite being substituted in 12 games, Tel has only appeared five times in the league, partly due to fitness issues and stiff competition within the squad.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Tel has already spoken with Kompany and is hopeful for a brighter future at Bayern. However, Chelsea remain interested, having requested updates on Tel’s availability during initial talks.
Reports from German publication BILD indicate that Nkunku was among the players discussed in the swap proposal.
Nkunku, 27, has netted 13 goals for Chelsea this season but has faced limited Premier League opportunities under Enzo Maresca. Out of 18 league appearances, he has only started three games, scoring twice, with the majority of his contributions coming in cup competitions.
He boasts three goals in the Carabao Cup, one in the FA Cup, and seven in the Europa Conference League, showcasing his efficiency in limited minutes.
Chelsea manager Maresca has acknowledged the fierce competition for attacking spots in his squad, admitting the challenge of balancing game time for players like Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Cole Palmer. “It’s tough to give everyone minutes,” said Maresca.
“We have players with similar qualities, like Joao, Cole, and Christo [Nkunku]. They’ve played together in some matches, but not every game allows for that.”
While talks between Chelsea and Bayern remain in their early stages, both clubs appear intrigued by the potential deal.
