A former Chelsea defender has urged the Blues to ditch Joao Pedro and Liam Delap for a former Liverpool striker
Former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly has urged the Blues to make a bold move for former Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, insisting the Uruguayan could be the answer to Chelsea’s ongoing struggles in front of goal.
Nunez, who left Liverpool for Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal last year, has already been linked with a potential Premier League return, and Desailly believes Stamford Bridge would be the perfect destination.
Desailly backs Nunez to thrive under Maresca’s Chelsea system
Speaking to OLGB, Desailly made it clear he’s a big admirer of the fiery Uruguayan striker, who despite enduring mixed fortunes at Liverpool, showed flashes of the raw potential that once convinced the Reds to pay big money for him.
“Nunez for me, was perfect, spot on,” the Frenchman said. “Young, he had bad luck at Liverpool but if Liverpool took him it means that they’ve seen real potential. I wanted Darwin Nunez to come into the system with confidence, with Maresca in a good system, it could have really been helpful for Chelsea.”
Desailly went on to describe Nunez as an affordable option with unfinished Premier League business, adding that if his Saudi adventure isn’t working out, a move back to England “could really suit both parties.”
Chelsea’s striker crisis continues to deepen
Chelsea’s attack has been anything but clinical this season, with new signings Liam Delap and João Pedro managing just three Premier League goals between them.
The lack of a reliable finisher has once again become a glaring issue, despite Enzo Maresca’s side creating plenty of chances. Nunez, for all his inconsistency at Liverpool, still produced 11 league goals in the 2023/24 campaign.
Liam Delap and Joao Pedro celebrate after Chelsea’s Club World Cup final victory against PSG (Credit: Imago)
His mix of power, pace, and relentless energy could inject the bite and unpredictability the Blues have been missing.
Whether Chelsea act on Desailly’s suggestion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: their search for a proven goalscorer is far from over.