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1 week ago
14 Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, Chelsea’s forwards have struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.
Were it not for new signing, Cole Palmer, who has 23 goals per BBC Sport, things could’ve been a whole lot worse for the West Londoners.
Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino foresaw what was going to happen with the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku et al, notwithstanding that the Blues have had to deal with an incredible amount of injuries this season.
Chelsea wanted Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez
It’s now come to light that Chelsea wanted to bring Liverpool hit-man Darwin Nunez to Stamford Bridge last summer, and they tried hard to do so according to Fabrizio Romano.
“At the moment, just to be clear, I’m not aware of any negotiation or changes around the Darwin Nunez situation, there are no concrete updates,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing.
“What I wanted to tell you guys is to remind you and to let you enter into the details of the story that Chelsea, at the end of the last summer transfer window, in the final weeks where they were looking for a striker, they really tried to bring in Darwin Nunez.
“They really had conversations to make it happen but for Liverpool it was a clear ‘No.’ What I heard is that Jurgen Klopp said no to that move, and really wanted to keep a crucial player for the present and future of Liverpool, but Chelsea were super keen on Darwin Nunez.
“Let’s see if some clubs will approach Liverpool this summer or if Darwin will end up staying at Liverpool where he remains an important player.”
Given how the season has turned out for both Chelsea as a group and Pochettino as a coach, it’s difficult to see how the situation might get addressed this summer.
Todd Boehly is known to have a trigger finger when it comes to managers, and if the Blues don’t qualify for European competition there’s a real chance that Pochettino and his backroom staff will be sacked.
Players that had signed up with the thought of playing in the Champions League might also want to consider their position at the club, notwithstanding that Boehly will probably want to move a few out in any event because of Financial Fair Play rules.
On the face of it, things appear to be very unhealthy at the club, and anyone being courted by them for next season may want to think twice before joining.
Nunez has had his critics at Liverpool but he remains an important part of their squad. Had he joined Chelsea, who knows what his situation would’ve looked like at this point in time.
The post Exclusive: “They really tried” – Chelsea wanted Liverpool hit-man last summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.
