INEOS plot mid-season swoop for ‘unhappy’ Premier League frontman; Thierry Henry ‘loves watching him’

In a surprising turn of events on Sunday evening, Manchester United found themselves linked with a mid-season swoop for one of their Premier League rivals’ frontmen.

Indeed, the Red Devils are believed to be mulling over a move for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who, according to L’Equipe (via GFNF), is ‘unhappy’ with his situation at Stamford Bridge.

You couldn’t blame him, either, as the forward ranks considerably further in the pecking order than he’d have hoped heading into the campaign. The likes of Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson have established themselves as Enzo Maresca’s preferred attacking trio, leaving Nkunku operating a reduced role off the bench.

He has made only one Premier League start in 2024/2025, which came on the opening day against Manchester City. Since then, his nine appearances have all come as a substitute; the earliest introduction he’s been granted is in the 64th minute, with the rest all coming well past the 70-minute mark.

Reds look to bolster frontline with out-of-favour Nkunku

Nkunku, a striker whom Thierry Henry confessed he ‘loves watching’, signed for the Blues in June 2023 in a £53 million move from RB Leipzig, where he’d enjoyed consecutive seasons of prolific goalscoring form. He left Germany with a record of 70 goals and 56 assists in 172 matches, scoring 23 and assisting nine in his final season at the Red Bull Arena. 

Something INEOS’ transfer chiefs must take into account, however, is that the 26-year-old’s injury record leaves a lot to be desired, having already missed a whopping 39 matches since his Chelsea tenure began. 

The United faithful could certainly pin their hopes on the Frenchman reigniting the best version of himself under Ruben Amorim, but a plagued fitness record is the last thing the club needs in any potential signing. Rasmus Hojlund has already suffered his fair share of setbacks, and it was undoubtedly the primary season they opted to offload Anthony Martial when his contract expired over the summer.