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Christopher Nkunku undergoes surgery on pre-season knee injury.
Chelsea’s summer signing, Christopher Nkunku, has undergone knee surgery following an injury sustained during a preseason friendly against Borussia Dortmund. This injury setback is expected to keep Nkunku out of action for an extended period, dealing a blow to Chelsea’s plans for the upcoming season.
The club confirmed in a statement that Nkunku has already had the surgery and will now embark on a rehabilitation program with the club’s medical team.
The 25-year-old has now gone under the knife, with Chelsea writing in a statement: “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.”
Chelsea Football Club has today released the following statement about Christopher Nkunku. ⤵️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 8, 2023
Nkunku, who arrived at Chelsea for a significant transfer fee from RB Leipzig, had made a positive impression during preseason, forming a promising partnership with fellow newcomer Nicolas Jackson. However, this injury will sideline him for an unspecified duration, and his versatility as both a striker and an attacking midfielder will be missed.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino had been exploring various attacking options during preseason, and Nkunku’s injury may lead to further considerations in the team’s search for a new striker. Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus has been mentioned as a potential target, although negotiations have reportedly faced obstacles, including Juventus’ demand for an additional fee in any potential swap deal with Chelsea.