Mauricio Pochettino says Christopher Nkunku’s injury setback may force Chelsea to be “clinical” in the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old forward is out of Fulham’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon after missing the last two matches with a hip problem.
Nkunku has started just one match for Chelsea this season, having had a four-month injury lay-off for a significant knee issue earlier in the season, and his latest setback could force Pochettino into the market.
Asked if Nkunku’s fitness issues have forced a rethink, Pochettino said: “It’s true that now, in the next few days that we are going to see the situation. That’s why I say I am a little worried.
“I still don’t have all the information about whether he will be available or not for a small initial period. We need to be very clinical to take some decisions, to think and see how we fix the problem.”
The £52m signing from RB Leipzig got 70 goals and 56 assists in 172 games at his former club over a four-year spell.
Pochettino built his team around the France international in pre-season but he has rarely been available for competitive matches.
His absences, Pochettino thinks, place too much of a burden on strikers Armando Broja and Nicolas Jackson, the latter of whom is at the African Cup of Nations.
“He was the only player that was performing, of course, in a different league in Germany but was consistently scoring goals,” he added.
“That was the situation before the start of the season.
“Jackson is 22, Broja is 21 and they are young guys who must adapt. That’s why we feel a bit more the hit of [losing] Nkunku because we were sure he was consistent in scoring goals.
“It’s a blow. It has become compulsory for Jackson to score with every touch and do well. Broja, with one year out, needs to play three games in a row and that’s difficult for him.”
Wasteful finishing again put Pochettino under pressure as Middlesbrough won the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Argentine’s future has been questioned this week as the Blues are 10th in the Premier League and qualification for Europe is in doubt.
Pochettino insists he only wants to succeed for the club, not to salvage his reputation, adding: “I am not a person that I am working here because of my ego because I told you this project will be tough.
“It is a project of young players, try to help them reach a different level, and it is always about time. If I wanted to do a different job, I should wait and move in another direction.
“I don’t see it in this way; I think about it as building a very good relationship with the club and putting our capacity, knowledge and experience here and to try to help the owner and sporting director develop a very good project, a project that not only that we can build a player but if not, in the end, win.”
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