Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

News

HomeNewsChelseaEnglish Premier League

Owen Hargreaves says Cole Palmer has actually made it harder for £53m player at Chelsea

Charles Jones

Wed 26 February 2025 16:45, UK

Chelsea beat Southampton on Tuesday evening, and the star of the show on this occasion was Christopher Nkunku.

Indeed, the Frenchman was among the goals at Stamford Bridge this week in what was a solid performance amid what has been a stop-start season for Christopher Nkunku.

Nkunku was highly-rated before he arrived at Chelsea, but h🔴e hasn’t 🐠quite hit the heights expected of him in west London.

Nkunku has been criticised at times for Chelsea, and speaking on , Owen Hargreaves has been discussing Nkunku’s struggles and why he hasn🌼’t quite hit the heights fo🌟r Chelsea so far.

• READ MORE: Official statement reveal⛄s how Tottenham could help Chelsea win UEFA Conferenc𒈔e League this season

Cole Palmer has made things harder for Christopher Nkunku

Hargreaves spoke abou♑t Nkunku, claiming that Cole Palmer’s emergence in the number 10 role has made 🎃things harder for Nkunku.

Indeed, there hasn’t been a natural spot for the Frenchman in this team as of𒐪 late, and thꩲat’s due to the fact Palmer has been undroppable.

“They need him. Everyone thought, is he a striker, but he’s not a striker, he can play wide or as a🎐 10, but they need his goals with Jackson out. He can score goal🌟s Christopher Nkunku. He just needs to stay fit and healthy and find a role.

“Cole Palmer being so influential in that nu🌌mber 10 position has probably took away from where he’s at his best, but aside from Cole Palmer he’s probably their most natural choice f🍷or goals if Nicolas Jackson is missing.”

Christopher Nkunku stats without Cole Palmer

Palmer is an𝓰 unbelievable player, but, asꦯ Hargreaves says, his presence at Chelsea is affecting Nkunku.

Nkunku often has to make way for Palmer, and the stats🤪 do show that the Frenchman is better when Palme🌳r isn’t on the pitch.

Of course, it’🐼s important🍷 to note that many of those games where Nkunku has played without Palmer have been in the Europa Conference League against weaker opposition, but the numbers are still very telling.

The sad reality is that these two players 🍒don’t work well together in the same team due to the fact they want to do a lot of the same things.

Nkunku hasn’t been happy at Chelsea at times this🐎 season, and a summer departure could well be on the cards for the man.