Chelsea look set for a busy summer transfer window after a turbulent first season under head coach Enzo Maresca.
The Blues are currently sixth in the Premier League rankings, and their chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League are tightly poised, despite the EPL being guaranteed five places for 2025/26.
Maresca’s side have also reached the semifinals of the Conference League and a win that in competition still represents their final chance for a trophy this season.
While the Blues are expected to continue their policy of bringing in highly-rated developing European talent, there will also be departures at Stamford Bridge, with Christopher Nkunku reportedly leading the exit list, as per The Times.
Nkunku was dropped for Chelsea’s last Premier League game against Fulham which Maresca claimed was due to a ‘technical’ decision, but many Blues fans view the call as the final nail in the coffin for the 27-year-old’s time in West London.
Despite Nkunku being fully fit, Maresca decided to call on Jadon Sancho and academy graduate Tyrique George ahead of him against the Cottagers. That decision paid off as George came off the bench to score his first EPL goal, which triggered Chelsea’s comeback.
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Pedro Neto smashed home a last-minute winner to bolster Chelsea’s chances of finishing in the Champions League places with Nkunku watching on from home.
Why could Nkunku leave Chelsea?
Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023 in a £58m [$77m] deal, and there was plenty of excitement in the camp ahead of his arrival. However, an injury in pre-season took away any momentum and ruled him out for months.
Since returning from injury, the Frenchman has scored 14 goals in 42 games, but has struggled to earn a regular starting spot. Maresca previously admitted that fitting Nkunku into his starting XI has not been straightforward, and that pattern has continued since the start of 2025.
As the season draws to a close, Nkunku has started just nine top-flight games, with Maresca preferring Cole Palmer in the No.10 role.
With his transfer value now dropping to around £40m [$53m], Chelsea could use those funds to strengthen multiple positions with Nkunku attracting interest from the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
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