Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has been ‘absolutely and utterly invisible’ ever since he joined the Premier League club, it has been claimed.
Much was expected of the France international following his £52m move from RB Leipzig in 2023 but Nkunku has endured two underwhelming seasons at Stamford Bridge.
The former Bundesliga Player of the Season was limited to just 14 appearances last term due to injury issues and has scored just three Premier League goals so far this campaign.
Enzo Maresca has often overlooked Nkunku in the Premier League but offered the Frenchman a rare start in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Nkunku failed to take his chance against the Gunners, however, struggling to make an impact before being subbed off as Chelsea chased an equaliser.
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Liverpool legend Steve Nicol said Nkunku was ‘absolutely and utterly invisible’ during the game and claimed he had been that way for almost all of his Chelsea career.
‘Arsenal were bang average, let’s be honest, but they were still way better than Chelsea,’ he said on ESPN.
‘You’ve got to ask yourself, what are Chelsea trying to achieve with that kind of performance? It doesn’t look like they’re trying to create chances or goals.
‘Jadon Sancho was the Jadon Sancho we saw at Manchester United – what happened to the Jadon Sancho we saw at Borussia Dortmund?
‘Nkunku was absolutely and utterly invisible. In fact, he’s been invisible since he went to Chelsea. At least [Pedro] Neto was running around and looked interested.
‘Chelsea look like they’re going nowhere, they might be fourth right now but if they keep performing like that, they will drop out of the Champions League places.’
Paul Merson was also underwhelmed by Nkunku’s performance against Arsenal but said he ‘felt sorry’ for the Chelsea star as he believes he is being played out of position.
‘Christopher Nkunku’s position is not on the wing,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘I feel sorry for him.
‘I like him, I think he’s a good player. He’s one that plays behind the centre-forward.
‘He’s an intelligent footballer, connects things, but the problem is Palmer’s been outstanding.
‘I don’t think Chelsea were foreseeing Palmer being as good as what he was hence why they bought Nkunku for a lot of money.’
Chelsea looked set to rival Liverpool for the Premier League title earlier in the season, impressing under new boss Maresca.
Maresca warned that level of performance would not continue and that has proved to be the case, with Chelsea now in a huge battle just to qualify for the Champions League.
‘Disappointed is an understatement,’ ex-Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf added. ‘There was nothing from them today [against Arsenal].
‘They had one chance, we saw nothing, we saw no reaction. It was empty, they had no ideas.
‘I’m so disappointed because it’s a big game, a derby, and we got nothing. That’s sad for the fans.’
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