“He’s neither a number 9 nor a suitable 10. I don’t know what he’s even doing at the club. He really needs to get back into the game” – This is according to former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as he critiques versatile Chelsea forward struggling to fit into a defined role.

When Nicolas Jackson joined Chelsea, his arrival came with modest expectations, unlike Christopher Nkunku, who was highly anticipated and regarded as one of the world’s best attackers at the time of his signing.

Despite this, Enzo Maresca has consistently favored Jackson as the leading striker and Cole Palmer in the number 10 role. Both players have performed impressively, leaving little room for Nkunku to secure a starting position in either role. While Nkunku has waited patiently for his opportunity, January has arrived, and speculation about his potential departure is intensifying.

When Nkunku has been given chances in the first team, he has struggled to convince as the central striker. Jason Cundy summarized the situation on TalkSport:

“I feel for Nkunku because he’s caught between two positions. He’s not a number nine, and he can’t play as a ten, so where does he fit best? Jackson has taken on the number nine role this season, and Nkunku hasn’t been able to fill that position effectively when given the opportunity.”

Jackson’s Form Opens the Door for Nkunku

Jackson recently endured a challenging outing at Selhurst Park, with just one goal in his last six starts. While he initially cemented his place in the lineup with strong performances and goals, his dip in form has begun to impact the team’s overall performance.

If Jackson’s struggles persist, the pressure on Maresca to rethink his attacking setup will intensify. This could be the opening Nkunku needs to showcase his quality.

Cundy suggests exploring alternative roles, potentially deploying Nkunku or Palmer in wider positions while keeping one central, to provide Jackson with better support. As the situation unfolds, Nkunku’s moment to shine might finally arrive.