The FOUR Different Positions That Pochettino May Deploy Christopher Nkunku In Next Season

With Chelsea finally announcing the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, we can now begin to speculate how he will fit into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.

Although the deal for the 25-year-old was agreed a long time before Pochettino was appointed, you can guarantee that he will make him a key player ahead of his first season in charge of the Blues.

Nkunku was a player in demand due to his outstanding performances for Leipzig in recent campaigns and Chelsea did extremely well to secure his signature. So how will Pochettino choose to use him?

Press the next page as we assess the four different positions that the France international could be deployed in.

Support Striker – The ‘Dele Alli’ Role

It has already been suggested that Pochettino may deploy Nkunku in the same way that he utilised Dele Alli during his time at Spurs.

You would have to say that Nkunku and Alli in their primes are different players, and it may well be that Pochettino opts to use his new Chelsea signing slightly differently.

However, if his numbers for Leipzig are anything to go by, picking him as a support striker or no.10 suits him perfectly.

Across his four years with the Bundesliga side, he scored 50 goals in 93 appearances playing in that role.

Centre Forward

Nobody would argue that Nkunku is a natural number nine, far from it, as he will leave his position to go deeper so he can get on the ball.

The 25-year-old is more comfortable, though, when he plays part of a front two, and at the end of last campaign, he partnered Timo Werner and Andre Silva on a few occasions.

In terms of playing Nkunku on his own through the middle, that would not be recommended in most circumstances.

A “false nine” role could be considered but you wouldn’t be getting the most out of the Frenchman in terms of his ability to make things happen when running at defences

Left Wing

Nkunku is naturally right-footed so there will be times when it may be sensible to start him out on the left flank so he can cut inside onto his stronger foot.

The France international may have only played there twice for Leipzig during the 2022/23 season but one of those was the German Super Cup against Bayern Munich, where he starred with a goal and assist.

It’s certainly not Nkunku’s natural position by any stretch of the imagination, though, as he is more prolific with goals and assists in more central areas.

Pochettino will probably only deploy him on the left if and when he feels the opponents have a noticeable weakness on that side of the pitch.

Right Wing

The least likely out of the four options. This is the position that Nkunku has rarely been used in over recent seasons.

Last campaign, the Frenchman started on the right flank just once, which was against Borussia Dortmund in a 3-0 win, when he didn’t get on the scoresheet or provide an assist. There are only 10 other occasions where he has played on that side during his time with Leipzig.

Interestingly, though, one of those was against Manchester City in 2021 when Nkunku bagged a hat-trick at the Etihad. Pochettino may occasionally select him there when he lacks options.

With Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic both expected to leave Stamford Bridge, the only other player in the squad who naturally plays on that side is Noni Madueke so Nkunku may have to fill in when required.