Chelsea transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino has already got a massive boost ahead of the new season for the Blues.
Christopher Nkunku has sent a positive message to Mauricio Pochettino ahead of an expected Chelsea link up next season. (Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Sound the klaxon, a Chelsea player – sort of – has scored a goal. With just one in five under Frank Lampard, and that being a deflected Conor Gallagher strike, the blunt Blues have continued to find creative ways of not putting the ball in the back of the net.
It appears that Lampard himself has bought into the notion of inevitable non-goalscoring after fielding Gallagher and N’Golo Kante as the supporting unorthodox attackers against Real Madrid and most recently Brentford. In those two matches, it was Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling who occupied the central role in attack.
Neither player suits the position entirely but with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still largely ignored and Armando Broja injured, what other choices are there? Lampard hasn’t found an answer, Graham Potter couldn’t and very soon it will be Mauricio Pochettino’s responsibility.
The Argentine is expected to be named the new Blues boss and will have ample time to plan ahead of the new season for just how to find more goals in a team prone to droughts. Since the last international break it is one goal in seven.
Going further back it is two goals from open play in nine. Over the new year period, Chelsea scored three times in 10. Pochettino’s advantage is that he will have a weapon that Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Lampard have all been without. Christopher Nkunku.
The French attacker has been one of the best-performing attackers across Europe for several seasons after racking up goals and assists aplenty. Despite an injury-hit campaign, he has already scored 13 league goals in 21 games for RB Leipzig, opening the scoring on Saturday afternoon just half an hour into his return.
Latching onto a pass inside the box, Nkunku’s simple touch with his right foot set up a finish with his left, the type of quick-thinking and instinctive attacking play that has been missing at Stamford Bridge all season.
Although the 25-year-old is yet to be announced by the club he has a deal agreed to join for the 2023/24 season and alongside the prospective incoming of Pochettino, the pair have given fans something to be positive about towards the end of the campaign.
Source: football.london
