Chelsea receive ‘direct contact’ from Premier League club who want to sign £195k-a-week Blues player, they have a chance

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Chelsea are now in discussions with a rival Premier League club about a potential deal for one first-team Blues player this month.

There’s been plenty of transfer speculation involving the Blues so far during the January window, but there’s not been too much movement yet. Will we see a late burst before the window closes on 3 February, though?

In terms of potential incomings, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was pretty keen to limit expectations yesterday.

Maresca insists Chelsea don’t need more midfield cover despite their ongoing injury issues in that area of the pitch. Also, Maresca doesn’t think Chelsea need more wingers amid plenty of transfer rumours.

• READ MORE: What super agent Jorge Mendes now wants Chelsea to do as AC Milan continue to target Joao Felix

Manchester United enter talks for Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed via X that Manchester United have entered the race to sign Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku in this January window.

Apparently, Man Utd are in ‘direct contact’ with the Blues about signing their 27-year-old attacker.

In addition, the Premier League side do have a chance of signing the Frenchman because Bayern Munich have made no progress in their attempts to purchase him.

Bayern have agreed personal terms with Chelsea’s Nkunku this month, but the German club are yet to find an agreement over his transfer. Chelsea want £65m to grant Nkunku’s sale.

Plettenberg further added that Chelsea and Man Utd are considering a potential swap deal involving Nkunku and Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea are lining up a transfer offer for Man Utd’s Garnacho as they consider signing the 20-year-old winger from Old Trafford. It could make for a dramatic finish to the January window as the Premier League giants each want one signing off the other.

Should Christopher Nkunku leave Chelsea?

It cost the Blues £52m (BBC) to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig back in the summer of 2023.

Nkunku’s record of 16 goals in 42 Chelsea appearances is a decent return. However, it’s quite clear that he’s struggled to really make Stamford Bridge his home.

The £195,000-a-week attacker (Spotrac) can’t get in ahead of Cole Palmer in the No.10 position, plus Nicolas Jackson is ahead of him in the pecking order for the striker position.

While we’re not buying into the idea of a possible Garnacho swap deal, it feels inevitable that Nkunku’s long-term future will need to be away from Chelsea.