PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN have offered Chelsea a surprise swap deal involving forward Christopher Nkunku, according to reports.
The Ligue 1 champs would be willing to send French international Randal Kolo Muani the other way if it meant they could be reunited with Nkunku.
The Parisians are keen on bringing their former youth product back to the Parc Des Princes five years after he left the club.
Nkunku is actually Chelsea’s top scorer this term, but he’s played 163 Prem minutes since his sole start on the opening day defeat to Man City.
Nkunku has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, though 10 of those have been in the Carabao Cup and Conference League, while the other was through a subbed appearance at Wolves.
But for all the European goals since September, playing time in the Prem has been hard to come by for Nkunku.
He has failed to break into the Blues starting XI in the Prem, with manager Enzo Maresca admitting that he deserves more chances, but there’s too many attackers to choose from in his bloated squad.
With Cole Palmer playing in his ideal No.10 position, and Nicolas Jackson firing as the No.9, Nkunku’s had to watch most weekends from the bench.
The Frenchman scored his latest goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League on Thursday, extending the club’s 100 per cent record in Europe this season.
And Chelsea fans do value Nkunku, with many of them thrilled to welcome his £52m arrival 18 months ago from RB Leipzig, where he scored 70 goals and provided 56 assists in 172 matches.
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Nkunku still has five years remaining on his contract with the Blues, with his first season at Stamford Bridge marred by a series of injury problems.
But with his current chances limited, the 27-year-old could be open to returning to his former side.
He made 78 appearances for PSG but didn’t achieve significant success on an individual level, scoring 11 goals during Kylian Mbappe‘s reign.
World Cup finalist Muani, 25, is said to be being considered as part of a swap deal, as he is not in current PSG manager Luis Enrique‘s plans.
Chelsea searched for a striker over the summer and Muani may well fit the bill in terms of competition for Jackson, but it is claimed that the Blues aren’t yet considering such a swap.
Maresca wants Nkunku to stay and sent a message to disgruntled Chelsea stars after Thursday’s 2-0 win.
He said: “They (the players) are ready and it’s important. Filip did a very good game, Christo Nkunku the same. We have nine or 10 games in December so they are going to get more chances. They need to be ready.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United are also monitoring Nkunku’s dilemma at Chelsea.
United could sign him to replace Joshua Zirkzee, who has failed to impress at Old Trafford since joining in the summer.
Chelsea remained at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Heidenheim.
Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk got on the scoresheet as the Bundesliga side gave them their toughest test so far in the Conference League.
The Blues were not at their best in the opening 45 minutes but were far better after a half-time team talk from Enzo Maresca.
Click here to see how SunSport’s Alex Smith rated the Chelsea performances.
