Chelsea’s first-team player is absent from training at the start of pre-season after receiving permission from the club.
The Blues squad returned to Cobham on Monday for a short pre-season schedule.
Enzo Maresca’s side face Bayer Leverkusen (8 August) and AC Milan (10 August) in their only two friendly matches before kicking off their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace (17 August).
It’s been a late start to pre-season because Chelsea won the Club World Cup during a very busy summer, but the group have had a few weeks off to rest and recover.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesChristopher Nkunku granted permission to skip training as Chelsea receive enquiries
The future of Blues attacker Christopher Nkunku, 27, is certainly an interesting topic for discussion in the current transfer window.
It was recently claimed that Nkunku is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, so it’s intriguing to hear that he was absent from training on Monday for the first day of the club’s pre-season.
According to The Athletic, Nkunku was given permission by the Blues to miss the start of pre-season training.
The report claims that Chelsea value the French forward at around €50m (£43m), and he’s been the subject of enquiries from teams in England, Italy and Germany.
On top of that, journalist Fabrice Hawkins added via X that Nkunku and Chelsea’s management agreed to ‘postpone’ his return to pre-season training, explaining that he’s got a ‘minor injury’ right now.
🚨🔵 Christopher Nkunku won’t be with the squad tomorrow for the training session due to minor injury. The player and Chelsea ´s management have agreed to postpone his return. #CFC pic.twitter.com/HRw8SOdRdJ
— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) August 3, 2025
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Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe clubs linked with Christopher Nkunku
It’s not quite gone to plan for Nkunku during two years as a Chelsea player, but he’s still someone with a lot of individual talent. His record of 18 goals in 62 Blues appearances across all competitions is a modest tally.
Italian giants Inter Milan may be interested in signing Nkunku, even though there’s a split in opinion at the San Siro on him.
Premier League teams are keen on Nkunku amid interest from Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. Also, German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund asked about Nkunku last week.
If the 27-year-old joins the right club, preferably where he can play as a No.10, he could be an excellent signing for someone this summer.