Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has reportedly expressed frustration over his limited Premier League appearances this season, fueling speculation about a possible exit.
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However, former footballers Jamie O’Hara and Glen Johnson have urged the Frenchman to bide his time and fight for his spot.
Nkunku, who joined Chelsea for £52m from RB Leipzig in 2023, endured an injury-riddled debut season, managing just 11 Premier League appearances.
While fully fit now, the 26-year-old has yet to start in the league under new head coach Enzo Maresca since the opening day.
Despite limited league minutes, Nkunku has shone in other competitions, scoring nine goals in seven games across the Carabao Cup and Conference League.
However, his exclusion from the Premier League starting XI has reportedly left him unsettled, with Manchester United among the clubs monitoring his situation.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara criticized Nkunku for “moaning” about his game time and advised him to focus on proving himself.
“Chelsea should absolutely not be selling Christopher Nkunku. He’s a top player, and they can’t be getting rid of him in January,” O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport.
“I don’t know what he’s moaning about. Chelsea are doing well, and Nkunku just needs to fight for his position.”
O’Hara pointed out that Nkunku is competing against in-form players like Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer and emphasized that big clubs need squad depth to succeed.
Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson echoed O’Hara’s sentiment, advising Nkunku to stay patient as Chelsea are on an upward trajectory.
“We’ve seen some really good stuff from him. Chelsea are moving in the right direction, and he’d be mad to jump ship now,” Johnson told Betfred.
Johnson attributed Nkunku’s struggles to his injury-plagued past and believes he hasn’t reached full fitness yet.
Nkunku recently featured for France in their Euro qualifiers, starting in a 3-1 win over Italy, though he failed to score. With Chelsea set to face Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday, Nkunku will aim to make a stronger case for inclusion in Maresca’s starting XI.
As Chelsea look to cement their resurgence, retaining players like Nkunku is critical for building depth and quality. For Nkunku, the challenge lies in silencing doubts through persistence and performance—a hallmark of great players in competitive squads.
