Emmanuel Petit reveals the real reason Man Utd transfer target has been benched by Chelsea

Emmanuel Petit believes he knows the real reason Christopher Nkunku has been reduced to a bit-part role at Chelsea this season.

Much was expected from the France international when he joined the club from RB Leipzig 18 months ago but injuries and a change of manager have done little to help his cause.

New manager Enzo Maresca has preferred to use Nicolas Jackson as his attacking spearhead so far this term, and although Nkunku has scored 10 goals in just 17 appearances, most of those have come in the domestic and European cup competitions.

Cole Palmer’s rapid emergence, meanwhile, has meant the 27-year-old has been given little opportunity to impress in his favoured role and a lack of first team minutes has seen the former PSG star linked with a January move to Old Trafford.

Petit, however, believes Maresca is already thinking longer-term and creating room in his squad for Brazilian sensation Estevao who is set join the first team squad next season.

‘Christopher Nkunku isn’t being prioritised at Chelsea because of who is coming in to play in that position, Estevao Willian,’ he told Casino Hawks.

‘This is a player who has broken Neymar’s records in Brazil and has so much quality despite only being 17.

‘His agent says that everything is clear with the Chelsea board in terms of plans and he’ll be playing in the number 10 position next season.

‘Nkunku has done well and has also played well for France, but his injuries have held him back and although Chelsea will be very happy to keep him, he isn’t their priority.’

A host of high-profile Brazilians have represented Chelsea down the years with great success, including the likes of Willian, Ramires, Oscar, Felipe Luis and, most recently, Thiago Silva, but Petit believes Estevao could end up being the pick of the bunch.

He said: ‘There is no ceiling on Estevao Willian as a player. Chelsea also have to be patient with him. What he has done in Brazil is amazing but so many players have these promising starts to their careers and after two or three years it’s gone.

‘I’ve seen him play a few times and he has something very different. He is the type of guy you are happy to pay money to watch.

‘He has everything and can go on to have an incredible career, but things can change so quickly in football.’

MORE: Leicester vs Chelsea: Latest team news, predicted lineup and injuries

MORE: Spain star hits back at new England manager Thomas Tuchel over ‘language’ criticism

MORE: The starting XI Ruben Amorim picked in his first Manchester United training session