Barcelona are interested in signing Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku, according to reports.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge due to his lack of minutes under Enzo Maresca this season.
Nkunku has only started twice in the Premier League for the Blues, who sit four points behind leaders Liverpool, with the striker only finding the back of the net on two occasions.
Instead, Maresca has reserved Nkunku for cup competitions, the Carabao Cup and the UEFA Conference League, in which he has scored 10 goals.
The Frenchman has begun to tire of his lack of minutes in the top flight and is looking to move away from west London as soon as possible, as reported by Sport 45.
Nkunku's agent, Pini Zahavi, has apparently offered the attacker to LaLiga leaders Barcelona, however the Catalan team would only seek a deal at the end of the season and not in the January transfer window.
Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku is reportedly looking to move away from west London.
Barcelona agent Pini Zahavi has offered him the chance to sign the Frenchman
Enzo Maresca wants to keep Nkunku despite giving him only two starts in the Premier League
The France international has agreed to join Chelsea in December 2022 before completing a £53million transfer next summer.
He enjoyed a difficult start in the capital with injuries hampering his first season at the club under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Nkunku only managed 14 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring just three goals.
However, under Maresca's guidance, Nkunku avoided injuries and was available for every match on the schedule.
The Italian coach, who replaced Pochettino in June, preferred to use Nicolas Jackson in the striker position instead of Nkunku.
The Frenchman can also play as an attacking midfielder, but Chelsea star Cole Palmer fills that role.
But despite choosing to use other players, in November Maresca insisted that Nkunku is not for sale.
“I spoke to Christo days ago and he didn't say he was unhappy,” Maresca said. “Surely he would like to play minutes, but like many players.
10 of Nkunku's 12 goals for the Blues this season have come in cup competitions
Maresca prefers Cole Palmer (left) and Nicolas Jackson (right) over Nkunku.
'Since we started, for me there are not two teams, the team is only one. They can play the Conference League or the Premier League.
'(I) absolutely want Christo to stay with us. I have no idea about letting him go in January.
“Christo's best position is between the lines as a number 10, but Cole plays there. “They are all fantastic players and they are all going to play games, without a doubt, but not every game.”
