What does Nkunku bring to Chelsea?: Analyzing the newest Blue
His speed makes him a constant threat but his technical skills in tight spaces allow him to utilize his explosiveness and burst past defenders. It is going to be difficult to guess where Potter is going to insert him into the Blues’ rotation. Kai Havertz has been as inconsistent as they come when it comes to goal scoring, and given the versatility that Nkunku offers, we could see the French attacker be placed in a multitude of positions before he settles into the one during his first season in west London. At PSG, Nkunku predominantly played in the midfield and was known as more of a creator when he went over to Germany.
He has brought his game to new heights, becoming one of the most effective left-sided attacking threats around the world. Just like the women’s team, Potter seeks to become a more tactically versatile side that has the ability to dominate in possession, and the addition of Nkunku should be a perfect acquisition of what the former Brighton boss wants. The last RB Leipzig forward that the Blues acquired did not work out for a multitude of reasons, but Nkunku looks like a player that can add much more to an attack than just pure speed up front.
Even in Werner’s last season for the Red Bulls, Nkunku was a much more efficient player in front of the net, collecting a higher goal and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes than the German attacker on top of leading the group in the assist department. Nkunku is a much more versatile, and creative player going forward who not only has become one of the most prolific finishers in the game today but a creator that any club can rely on for amassing chances throughout the match. In his previous five seasons in professional football, Nkunku has had goals plus assists per 90 minutes greater than 0.5 in four of those seasons.
The biggest question is where Nkunku is going to play on a regular basis, or if Potter is going to use him in more than just one position early on in his Chelsea tenure. Just like Mason Mount this season and Leandro Trossard with the Seagulls under Potter, he is not afraid to experiment with these star players in a plethora of positions in his system despite the fact there may be one that has a track record of being more successful. We could see Nkunku as one of the three in the frontline of a 4-3-3, or as one of the two in the attacking line in a potential 4-4-2. On top of everything this exhilarating forward brings, it now allows Havertz to move on the right more often rather than playing in a false nine.
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There is so much that CFC fans should be excited about when it comes to Nkunku. His athleticism, versatility, and creativity in tight spaces provide the Blues with a perfect player for Potter’s system. Hopefully, this is the first time that Chelsea gives one of its managers time and patience in charge because, with a player that does this so much going forward, we could see Potter’s Blues take a massive step toward consistency in possessions, and chances created.