Enzo Maresca drops Christopher Nkunku Chelsea bombshell before West Ham match as future now clear.

Christopher Nkunku has had a good start to his second season at Chelsea, with the French forward thriving under Enzo Maresca at the Bridge.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admits that Christopher Nkunku is an option up front for Saturday’s game against West Ham United.

Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig on a six-year contract worth £52 million in July 2023. In his first season at Chelsea, the French forward struggled with injuries and made only 14 appearances across all competitions.

However, the 26-year-old had an injury-free pre-season with the Blues this summer. Nkunku has appeared six times for Maresca in 2024/25, scoring three goals in all competitions.

The Frenchman has rarely played as a striker, but it appears that this is where his future lies at Chelsea. When asked if Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have a good battle for the striker position, Maresca explained Nkunku’s role.

“We used Christoph as a nine in the last game, for the last 10 minutes,” he said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “He is completely different from Nicolas in terms of quality and skill. Nico is a No.9, whereas Christo is not a true No.9. We can use him as a nine, but in a different way.

“I am completely satisfied with the squad, not just Nico and Christopher. We have a versatile group of players, including Christo, who can play as a nine or in the pocket.

We know he dislikes being used widely and prefers to be inside. However, in order to maintain balance, they must occasionally play in positions that are not optimal for them. Christoph was used in a variety of positions in the season’s first game against [Manchester] City, but the important thing is that they adapt and strive to be their best.”