Mauricio Pochettino is confident that Chelsea possesses sufficient squad depth to manage without Armando Broja, who has embarked on a loan spell with Fulham for the rest of the season.
Given Broja’s placement below Nicolas Jackson in the striker hierarchy and Chelsea’s plans to acquire a new forward during the summer transfer window, the decision was made to entertain offers for the 22-year-old academy graduate initially valued at £50m.
Acknowledging the likelihood that no team would meet such a valuation late in the transfer window, Chelsea opted for a straightforward loan arrangement with Fulham. Pochettino expressed his belief that this move will not significantly impact the squad’s dynamics over the next six months.
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Pochettino stated in Friday’s press conference, “I think it is important to recover Christoph [Nkunku], and today arrived Nico Jackson [back from the Africa Cup of Nations], and then also sometimes we forget but Deivid Washington is here with us. The options we have up front, I think, is enough.”
While Chelsea is anticipated to make substantial expenditures in the summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhem among the prime targets, Pochettino remains committed to relying on Nkunku and Jackson in the interim. Jackson, fresh from international duty, may feature in the starting lineup against Wolves on Sunday. However, caution will be exercised with Nkunku as he nears full recovery from injury.
Pochettino expressed optimism about Nkunku’s progress, noting his goal off the bench against Liverpool, and emphasized the need to carefully manage his playing time after a lengthy absence. The coach highlighted the challenges for a player returning after six or seven months but praised Nkunku’s ability to score a remarkable goal and showcase his quality.