Christopher Nkunku in a bid to convince the Frenchman to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were reportedly planning to offload Nkunku after yet another underwhelming Premier League season.
The London club invested £52 million to bring Nkunku in from RB Leipzig in 2023, but his debut campaign was largely derailed by injury.
Although Nkunku regained fitness last term, his impact was limited, registering only three Premier League goals.
Supporters have been disappointed by Nkunku’s performances, especially given his status as Bundesliga’s Player of the Season and top scorer in 2021–22.
Chelsea were receptive to transfer bids for Nkunku during January and were expected to move him on during the summer.
With Maresca welcoming new faces to the squad this off-season, parting with Nkunku could help free up squad space and generate funds.
Still, L’Equipe reports that Maresca recently met with Nkunku and expressed his desire to keep the forward in his plans for the future.
The manager values Nkunku’s attributes and understands the need for squad depth to mount a serious domestic and European challenge alongside top rivals.
Whether Nkunku is content with a supporting role remains uncertain, as he’s keen to secure a spot in France’s World Cup squad next year.
Nkunku’s camp is aware of growing interest, including from Italian powerhouse Inter Milan, with discussions having already taken place.
According to L’Equipe, clubs lower down the Premier League table have shown interest too, though Nkunku is intent on staying at an elite side.
Although he was earlier tied to moves to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, both clubs now seem to be pursuing alternative signings.
Speaking to Metro in April, ex-Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf advised the club and Nkunku to move on and bring their partnership to a close.
‘I think they need to cut their losses and go their separate ways,’ the ex-Chelsea centre-back said.
‘It’s best for the club but also the future of the player. Careers are pretty short so you have to react quickly if it doesn’t work.
‘And it can happen like this – sometimes the chemistry doesn’t work. I was very happy to see him come to Chelsea, but it’s never worked. ‘He’s never been able to settle down, maybe because the position he’s been offered wasn’t the right one.
‘It’s always difficult to come from a family club like Leipzig to a club where you have to perform and the pressure is one you always. I had that when I moved from Strasbourg to Chelsea and it’s a big task if you’re not able to cope with the situation.
‘It’s never worked for him but he’s still a good player. He will have to rebound but we’ve seen that before with players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah when they left.’
