By Okafor Joseph Afam | January 14, 2025

Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is reportedly eager to secure a move to Bayern Munich during the ongoing winter transfer window, marking a potential end to his brief stint at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023 but has struggled to establish himself in the Premier League. In his injury-marred debut season, Nkunku was limited to just 14 appearances in all competitions.

This season, he has regained fitness and delivered a respectable tally of 13 goals in 28 matches. However, most of his starts have come in the Conference League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup, with only three Premier League starts under the management of Enzo Maresca.

Despite being contracted with Chelsea until the summer of 2029, Nkunku is reportedly keen on a fresh start in Germany.

Bayern Move Gathers Momentum

According to journalist Florian Plettenburg, Bayern Munich has identified Nkunku as their top transfer target for the January window. The French international is said to have reached a verbal agreement over a long-term contract with the Bundesliga giants and is pushing to finalize the move immediately.

Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl is determined to secure Nkunku on a permanent deal rather than a loan, and discussions between the two clubs are already underway. Chelsea’s interest in Bayern’s young forward Mathys Tel could potentially play a role in negotiations, with Tel possibly included in the deal.

Tactical Challenges at Chelsea

Maresca’s tactical preferences may also have accelerated Nkunku’s exit. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League match against Bournemouth, Maresca hinted at the difficulty of accommodating Nkunku alongside Joao Felix and Cole Palmer, all of whom prefer the No. 10 role.

“The only thing I’ve said since the start is it’s difficult to play games with so many attacking players,” Maresca explained.

“If Joao plays, it means Cole doesn’t play, or if Joao plays, he has to play with Cole together, but it depends on the game. We have three players that are more or less similar—Joao, Cole, and Christo.”

Nkunku’s limited appearances in Chelsea’s high-stakes Premier League matches have further fueled speculation that the forward’s role under Maresca has been diminished.

Likely Absence Against Bournemouth

With transfer talks ongoing, Nkunku’s involvement in Chelsea’s upcoming match against Bournemouth appears uncertain. The forward’s potential departure would mark a significant shift in Chelsea’s attacking setup as the club continues to reshape its squad under Maresca’s vision.

Should the move to Bayern Munich materialize, it would offer Nkunku a chance to relaunch his career at a top European club while leaving Chelsea with a key decision to make regarding their forward line.