Chelsea are just hours away from a European semi-final as they prepare to take on Djurgarden in the Conference League in Sweden.
The timing is far from ideal for Enzo Maresca as he balances their crucial final Premier League fixtures that will determine whether they end up playing Champions League football next season.
The level of European football they are playing could impact the magnitude of signing they are able to make in the summer, a transfer window Chelsea are expected to ‘go big’ in.
The likes of Liam Delap are reportedly assessing their options and waiting to see what clubs can offer him next season before deciding which team they will be joining.
Chelsea are very keen on Delap, and all the suggestions are that he would be coming in to offer competition to Nicolas Jackson, after Christopher Nkunku has not been able to succesfully do that this season.
Christopher Nkunku missing chance to save Chelsea career
Even when the Senegal international has been injured for prolonged periods of time, Maresca looked to Pedro Neto to play the striker role over the Frenchman after he failed to impress in his chances in the Premier League.
The Conference League has been a platform for Nkunku to shine this season though. Including qualifiers, he has scored seven goals in the competition so far.
However, he will not be adding to that total in Sweden, as Chelsea’s official squad announcement saw he had not travelled with the team due to a small injury concern.
Given the fact that this is the competition where most of his more impressive performances have occurred, the final two or three European games could well be the former RB Leipzig man’s last chance at saving his Stamford Bridge career.
Nkunku wanted by top clubs
A number of clubs have been linked with the signing of the attacker at the end of the season, with sides likely to believe there is an opportunity out there to for a bit of a bargain transfer.
Arsenal have been linked with Nkunku, while Bayern Munich’s interest from January is likely to remain when the transfer window opens again.
It looks as if Chelsea are prepared to accept a loss on Nkunku, with one of the standout signings under the new owners failing to have the impact that was expected.
