“He’s still valuable to us and his performance against Benfica proved my point. We still believe in him and he’s not going to leave us soon” – This is according to Enzo Maresca as he remains hopeful about underperforming Chelsea player after giving him a shot against Benfica

Enzo Maresca Backs Struggling Chelsea Attacker Following Win Over ES Tunis

After Chelsea’s comfortable 3-0 win over Esperance Sportive de Tunis in the Club World Cup, manager Enzo Maresca showed his faith in a player currently facing heavy scrutiny.

The Italian coach made several rotations to his starting lineup, giving starts to Christopher Nkunku, Filip Jorgensen, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Dewsbury-Hall, in particular, has been linked with a summer departure, with rumors suggesting he could be part of a swap deal involving Brighton’s Joao Pedro. Meanwhile, speculation continues around Nkunku, who is reportedly being eyed by Manchester United.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Nkunku featured from the start against ES Tunis. After the match, Maresca reaffirmed his belief in the Frenchman’s potential role moving forward, though he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the transfer window.

Speaking to The Standard, Maresca said, “If Christo is here with us, it’s because we think he can still help the team and be part of the squad next season. But like with many others, there’s always speculation when the market is open, and anything can change—players can come in or leave.”

Nkunku’s name has been floated in a possible exchange deal involving United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who is reportedly on Chelsea’s list of transfer targets. With Jadon Sancho returning to Manchester United and Mykhailo Mudryk unavailable, Chelsea are looking to bolster their options on the flanks.

Some Chelsea supporters have suggested they wouldn’t be opposed to a Garnacho-Nkunku swap. Nkunku’s time at the club has been hampered by injury setbacks, limiting his contribution since joining. Because of this, part of the fanbase might not be overly concerned if he were to leave this summer.