Ex-England midfielder and manager Glenn Hoddle (Picture: TNT Sports)

Glenn Hoddle has questioned if Christopher Nkunku is ‘happy’ at Chelsea and believes he is one of several Stamford Bridge players who could ask to leave the club in January.

Chelsea spent £52m to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023 but the France international has only made 26 appearances for the Blues due to injury issues.

Much was expected of Nkunku following his impressive spell in Germany, with the 26-year-old scoring 58 goals across his final two seasons at Leipzig.

Nkunku netted three goals in 14 games in his first season at Stamford Bridge and spent much of the campaign in the treatment room.

The Frenchman appears to be over those fitness problems but is still struggling for game-time under Enzo Maresca, only starting one league game so far this season.
Nkunku has often featured from the bench, however, and has impressed in cup competitions, scoring a hat-trick against League Two side Barrow last month.

He was handed another start on Thursday night in Chelsea’s Europa Conference League clash against Panathinaikos as Maresca opted to rest his first-choice striker this season, Nicolas Jackson.

Christopher Nkunku cost Chelsea £52m (Picture: Getty)

Jackson was criticised for his wayward finishing last season but looks an improved player this term, already contributing five goals in the Premier League.

Hoddle believes Nkunku would be ‘more clinical’...