Alonso Eyes Nkunku Return as Chelsea Plot Summer Move for Misfiring Milan Striker

Xabi Alonso's arrival at Chelsea has sparked fresh speculation over a potential reunion with Christopher Nkunku, with the incoming boss and club ownership BlueCo reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions about bringing the French forward back to Stamford Bridge.

Nkunku's journey through English and Italian football has been nothing short of turbulent. The striker originally joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in summer 2023 for £52million as Mauricio Pochettino's maiden signing, arriving off the back of a glittering spell in Germany where he'd claimed Bundesliga player of the season honours and German PFA player of the season in 2021/22, plus two DFB-Pokal medals. His pedigree was further enhanced by three Ligue 1 titles won with Paris Saint-Germain.

Yet despite his credentials, Nkunku's Chelsea tenure proved underwhelming. Over 62 appearances, he managed just 18 goals and five assists before departing for AC Milan in summer 2025 following success in the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.

The Rossoneri paid £36million for his services, but the gamble has backfired spectacularly. Across 35 matches in all competitions this season, Nkunku has mustered a meagre eight goals and three assists—hardly the return Milan anticipated when investing in the Frenchman's talents.

Now, with Alonso taking the Chelsea reins, the possibility of a second chapter for Nkunku at Stamford Bridge is being seriously entertained. According to reports, Milan are willing to offload the 28-year-old for around €40million—a figure considerably lower than what Chelsea originally received.

The arithmetic is intriguing: Chelsea paid £52million initially, sold for £36million, and could potentially reacquire Nkunku for less than that. Tactically, too, the move makes sense. Alonso's system—built on high pressing and a dynamic, rotating front three—mirrors the structure at Leipzig where Nkunku flourished. His struggles at Chelsea, the theory goes, stemmed from managerial mismanagement and poor load management rather than any fundamental deficiency.

The real hurdle, however, isn't football. It's the optics. Bringing back a player previously offloaded as a failure represents a significant PR challenge that BlueCo has yet to resolve internally. Whether Alonso can override that reluctance through tactical conviction remains the key question being discussed quietly behind closed doors.

Complicating matters further, Massimiliano Allegri has been sacked as Milan manager, with the club yet to appoint a successor. CalcioMercato reported in May that Milan had initially informed Nkunku's agent of their intention to sell, but recent developments suggested that position had shifted. The changing managerial landscape at San Siro may yet alter the landscape once more.