New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could have a bit of a selection headache next season.
Enzo Maresca was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino‘s successor earlier this month after the Argentine’s exit by mutual consent.
The 44-year-old will be tasked with getting Chelsea back into the top four and the Champions League again.
In the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Maresca is going to have some big decisions to make.
The above includes deciding who to start in the No.10 role if he decides to play a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku Chelsea’s two No.10 options
Cole Palmer spent most of last season playing on the right wing, but the 22-year-old’s best position is probably just behind the striker.
Like his teammate, Christopher Nkunku also spent some time on the flank, but his best form at RB Leipzig came when he was starting in a more central role.
According to journalist Simon Phillips, Maresca will now have a look at both of them in the No.10 position.
Discussing Chelsea’s midfield situation on his Substack, he said: “At the moment, we have Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka.
“As well as that, Maresca is going to be looking at both Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku in the 10 position, which would also class them as midfielders.”
READ MORE: Who is Cole Palmer? Profile, family, transfer, celebration and more
Who should Chelsea’s No.10 be next season?
Palmer obviously has the numbers to play there.
In 45 appearances for Chelsea last term, the England international scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists.
That is the kind of productivity you want to see from your attacking midfielder.
However, Nkunku is also a productive player and is not the sort of individual you want to leave out of your team when he is fit. For example, in his last season at Leipzig, the France international scored 23 goals in 36 games.
To get both men in the team, then, Maresca may have to leave Palmer on the right and make Nkunku his main No.10.
That could be the way to go if Chelsea fail to land Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise this summer. Add him to the mix, and things become a little bit more complicated.
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