Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes the emergence of Cole Palmer is the reason that Christopher Nkunku’s career at Stamford Bridge has failed to take off.

The Frenchman has been on the periphery this season and he was expected to leave during the January transfer window. Speaking exclusively to Chelsea News (courtesy of BetVictor), Wright-Phillips said that Nkunku is simply unlucky that he plays in the same position as Palmer:

“It’s hard because I think he’s unfortunate in many ways that he signed around about the same time as Cole Palmer and I think, as nobody really expected Cole Palmer to do the magnitude of what he has actually been doing so, in many ways, that has killed Nkunku because now he could have been that number 10 /9 player that plays behind the striker but that’s Cole Palmer[‘s role].”

Wright-Phillips does, though, think Nkunku will get more minutes in the second half of the season now that Joao Felix has left for AC Milan on loan:

“He isn’t really a winger so that is the position [behind he striker] that could maybe, with Felix leaving, he’s that backup. Now it looks like he will get more game time because the squad’s thinner and he’s basically the only player they’ve got for me that can play that position and will play it a different way once he does those scary raking passes that Cole [also] plays. He’s what I think the second top goal scorer at Chelsea now so, you know, he gets you goals, so it’s good to have that in your arsenal.”

Nkunku’s first summer at Chelsea was a sliding-doors moment

The France international looked set for a key role with the Blues after starring in pre-season following his arrival in the summer of 2023. However, he injured his knee shortly before the start of the campaign, sidelining him until December.

Palmer was signed not long afterwards and he established himself as the club’s key playmaker, leaving little room for Nkunku in the starting eleven on his return to fitness.

A departure this summer still looks likely

Nkunku was linked with a loan move to Manchester United and a switch to Bayern Munich in the last transfer window but he is said to be keen on leaving on a permanent deal.

Based on recent reports, it appears his situation will be revisited when the campaign comes to an end.

Read more from our exclusive interview with Shaun Wright-Phillips as he assesses Pedro Neto’s start to life at Chelsea