Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has been speaking about Carney Chukwuemeka following his arrival from Chelsea.
Borussia Dortmund signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea on loan until the end of the season during the January transfer window.
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell recently spoke about Chukwuemeka‘s loan move, suggesting that it was a good idea for him to join Niko Kovac’s side.
However, the 21-year-old is yet to make a start for them and that is unlikely to change on Wednesday afternoon despite Dortmund having a game against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
Niko Kovac says Carney Chukwuemeka is not ready to start yet
Any Dortmund fans hoping to see Chukwuemeka start against Sporting are going to be left feeling disappointed.
According to Kovac, the midfielder is not ready to be named in the first XI after just recovering from a knee problem.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, Kovac said (via Get German Football News): “It’s too early to put Ramy Bensebaini and Carney Chukwuemeka in the starting eleven tomorrow. We have plans for them to get minutes.”
Chukwuemeka made his Dortmund debut in the first-leg tie, with the Bundesliga outfit managing to beat their Portuguese opponents 3-0.
Carney Chukwuemeka could have helped Chelsea to sign Liam Delap in January
There were more exits than arrivals for Chelsea during the January transfer window, with Chukwuemeka being one of those departures.
But if the Blues had it their way, then they would have brought in Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.
The 22-year-old is thought to be a key target for them, and it has been claimed that Chelsea could have landed Delap had Chukwuemeka agreed to join Ipswich.
Understandably, with a European giant like Dortmund circling, Chukwuemeka was not keen to move to Portman Road.
Delap could still end up at Chelsea, though, with Enzo Maresca needing another centre-forward at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson’s form has not been great recently and the Senegal international is now out injured. Marc Guiu is sidelined as well, while Christopher Nkunku is not a natural No.9, showing Chelsea’s need to reinforce up front.
