Chelsea FC delivered disappointing news on Tuesday, confirming that their new recruit, Christopher Nkunku, would be side-lined for an extended period post his knee surgery. Nkunku, who joined the Premier League club from RB Leipzig with a substantial £58 million tag, suffered the injury during Chelsea's recent preseason clash with Borussia Dortmund in Chicago. The game, played at Soldier Field, had come under scrutiny due to its less than ideal playing conditions.
During the ninth minute of the friendly, the French forward found himself on the turf, clutching his leg in evident pain. Initially, the club was optimistic, hoping that the setback would see Nkunku out for weeks, not months. However, further assessments painted a grimmer picture, pointing to meniscus damage in his left knee that required surgical action.
Chelsea, in their official statement, detailed the severity of the situation: "Nkunku has sustained a knee injury which will rule the forward out for an extended period. The 25-year-old has undergone an operation and will now begin a rehabilitation programme with the club's medical department."
This injury further complicates matters for Chelsea, with Nkunku joining Wesley Fofana, another key player, on the injured roster. Fofana, too, is anticipated to miss a significant chunk of the season following his knee surgery.
Chelsea's coach, Mauricio Pochettino, expressed his concerns about Nkunku's condition, saying, "The doctors are checking him... He feels something in his knee but hopefully, it is not a big issue... Now we need a few days to assess him." While acknowledging the suboptimal pitch conditions at Soldier Field, Pochettino refrained from laying blame, stating, "Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect... But I think it was a bit unlucky... For me, it was bad luck."
Given Nkunku's absence, Chelsea's forward strategy might need reconsideration. Rumours have surfaced about a potential swap deal with Juventus involving Dusan Vlahovic and Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku has reportedly been keen on exiting Stamford Bridge. However, despite speculation, Chelsea seems uninterested in pursuing PSG's Neymar.
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