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

Emmanuel Petit believes helium knows the existent crushed Christopher Nkunku has been reduced to a bit-part relation astatine Chelsea this season.

Much was expected from the France planetary erstwhile helium joined the nine from RB Leipzig 18 months agone but injuries and a alteration of manager person done small to assistance his cause.

New manager Enzo Maresca has preferred to usage Nicolas Jackson arsenic his attacking spearhead truthful acold this term, and though Nkunku has scored 10 goals successful conscionable 17 appearances, astir of those person travel successful the home and European cupful competitions.

Cole Palmer’s accelerated emergence, meanwhile, has meant the 27-year-old has been fixed small accidental to impressment successful his favoured relation and a deficiency of archetypal squad minutes has seen the erstwhile PSG prima linked with a January determination to Old Trafford.

Petit, however, believes Maresca is already reasoning longer-term and creating country successful his squad for Brazilian sensation Estevao who is acceptable articulation the archetypal squad squad adjacent season.

‘Christopher Nkunku isn’t being prioritised astatine Chelsea due to the fact that of who is coming successful to play successful that position, Estevao Willian,’ helium told Casino Hawks.

‘This is simply a subordinate who has breached Neymar’s records successful Brazil and has truthful overmuch prime contempt lone being 17.

‘His cause says that everything is wide with the Chelsea committee successful presumption of plans and he’ll beryllium playing successful the fig 10 presumption adjacent season.

‘Nkunku has done good and has besides played good for France, but his injuries person held him backmost and though Chelsea volition beryllium precise blessed to support him, helium isn’t their priority.’

A big of high-profile Brazilians person represented Chelsea down the years with large success, including the likes of Willian, Ramires, Oscar, Felipe Luis and, astir recently, Thiago Silva, but Petit believes Estevao could extremity up being the prime of the bunch.

He said: ‘There is nary ceiling connected Estevao Willian arsenic a player. Chelsea besides person to beryllium diligent with him. What helium has done successful Brazil is astonishing but truthful galore players person these promising starts to their careers and aft 2 oregon 3 years it’s gone.

‘I’ve seen him play a fewer times and helium has thing precise different. He is the benignant of feline you are blessed to wage wealth to watch.

‘He has everything and tin spell connected to person an unthinkable career, but things tin alteration truthful rapidly successful football.’

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