Christopher Nkunku sent clear Ruben Amorim transfer message amid big Enzo Maresca Chelsea dilemma

Manchester United have been advised to try and sign Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea in January.

The 27-year-old, signed from RB Leipzig for around £52million in the summer of 2023, has featured for only 163 minutes in the Premier League in the opening 12 matches of the season for the Blues. Nkunku played the majority of Chelsea's two Carabao Cup ties before being eliminated away at Newcastle United and has also started all three of the Blues' UEFA Conference League league phase games to date.

In total, he has played 697 minutes for Chelsea this term in all competitions, where he has scored an impressive 10 goals - leaving him with an average of a goal every 69 minutes he is on the pitch. His lack of presence in the Premier League side, though, has left people questioning the France international's long-term future with the club.

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Nkunku has, in recent weeks, been linked with a shock move to Manchester United, who played their first match under newly-appointed manager Ruben Amorim on Sunday evening. The Red Devils took the lead just two minutes into the match at Portman Road but were pegged back Ipswich through former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson, with the game finishing all square.

Trying to transform United's on-the-pitch fortune will not come easy for Amorim. The Manchester-based club could look to bring in numerous players over the January transfer window that opens in just over a month.

Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes United may well look at Nkunku given his situation at Stamford Bridge. Speaking to Casino Hawks, Petit said: "Ruben Amorim has a clear philosophy and knows exactly what he wants from his players. He has identity and he wants intelligent players - Christopher Nkunku is one of those.

"In terms of how he links up with strikers and wingers, he could have a big impact at Old Trafford if Chelsea decide to sell. Looking at the dressing room at Manchester United, he could make a big difference."

The main reason why Nkunku has not been on the pitch as often as he would have liked this season is down to the form of Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal international netted his seventh goal of the Premier League season in Saturday afternoon's win away at Leicester City and his rapid improvement in the final third has kept Nkunku sidelined for now.

"Christo, every time he plays, he scores, and he does well," Enzo Maresca explained earlier this month when asked about the Frenchman's lack of Premier League minutes. "Also, he was probably our best player in pre-season, no doubt.

"He was playing then as an attacking midfielder and now we are using him as a nine, which we all know isn't his position; he's more of a second striker or between the lines. But I try to find solution and balance with all of them but not all of them can be in their position.

"They have to adapt a bit. It's for Joao [Felix], Christo, Misha [Mudryk], they are all players who deserve more chances in the Premier League, but there are also more players who deserve that."