The news fell earlier today. After his knee injury suffered against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly match on August 3, Christopher Nkunku had to come to terms with it. He was operated this morning on the meniscus of his left leg and will have to observe a long rest phase. While there was talk of an absence estimated at around two months, the French international (10 selections) should not finally make his return before December.
This package of more than three and a half months is a real blow for him and his new team. Recruited just a few weeks ago for €60m from RB Leipzig, the striker had made a convincing debut, notably scoring three goals in 5 pre-season games. Mauricio Pochettino, new coach of the London club, seemed to want to make him one of his attacking leaders with the other rookie, Nicolas Jackson, while waiting for the return of the other internationals.
Chelsea will have to sign a striker
Except that this injury changes a lot of things for the Argentinian. Without Nkunku and despite a plethoric workforce, the technician has only Jackson and Armando Broja as the only solutions in attack. And again because the Albanian has just returned to competition after six months on the sidelines following a rupture of the cruciate ligaments. A lack of depth which questions less than a week before the resumption of the Premier League against Liverpool and which Pochettino wants to remedy quickly.
According to Sky Sports, he is open to a reinforcement in attack by the end of the transfer window. THE London Evening Standard but also The Gazzetta dello Sport say on Tuesday that this news could give a big boost to the arrival of Dusan Vlahovic. Exchanges with Juventus take place in exchange for a transfer fee (the Old Lady claims 40 M€), plus Romelu Lukaku. That’s not all. THE THE even mentions taking information from the file… Kylian Mbappé.
Discussions for Mbappé
Inevitably, it is advisable to be very careful in this last file. Even if the door is open to his departure for PSG, the world champion has every intention of carrying out his last year of contract in the French capital. At the same time, and even before Nkunku’s injury, Chelsea had already attacked Michael Olise, offering Crystal Palace €30 million. Manchester City is also on the young Frenchman but the injury of the latter to the hamstrings complicates the deal a bit. Mohammed Kudus is also followed by the Blues.
