After a strong start to the season, Noni Madueke fell out of favour with Enzo Maresca and his position in the starting lineup was no longer assured. Now, the player is sidelined with a hamstring injury, reflecting on a campaign that started well but is likely to fizzle out.
There are now question marks over Madueke’s future at the club. The forward needs to establish himself soon or risk following in the footsteps of a vast number of Stamford Bridge flops.
Chelsea Were Interested in Signing Other Wingers
There were widespread reports during the January transfer window that Chelsea were actively looking for other wingers to provide competition for Madueke. They made an offer for Yeremay Hernandez from Deportivo de La Coruna, and were also reportedly interested in Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. It’s rumoured that they put in a £46 million bid for the player.
If the club were in the transfer market for wingers when they already have various options including Madueke on the books, it could indicate that the manager isn’t happy with his current squad. The former PSV Eindhoven player was expected to make the step up and become a regular starter under the former Leicester City boss, but now it appears that Maresca thinks he needs greater strength on the flanks.
Key Time for Madueke
It’s a pivotal period for Madueke, who broke into the England team for the first time in 2024. He has made five appearances for the national side, but he will not be guaranteed starts if he doesn’t continue to perform for Chelsea. Madueke had the option to play for Nigeria, and he may end up regretting the decision not to play for the African nation if his England performances dry up.
Chelsea’s season had begun in promising fashion, with some expecting the Blues to challenge at the top of the table. Now, though, those looking to make a football bet will have seen that Maresca’s men are at odds of 1000/1 to win the title. They do, however, have a strong chance of finishing in the top six with odds of 1/5 for that scenario.
If Chelsea continue to underwhelm this season, Maresca may feel that he needs to strengthen massively in the summer. To ensure that he’s still in the manager’s thoughts and to avoid being used in part of a swap deal, Madueke may need to get back to top form this season. That could be a tough ask, as the timeline for his return from injury isn’t clear yet.
Maresca has already stated that he wants Madueke to work harder and not get complacent. After flashes of brilliance in the first half of the campaign, there’s a chance that the young player was feeling like his position in the team was guaranteed. It all begins on the training pitch, and the winger will have to put in extra effort there upon his return from injury if he wants the chance to become a Chelsea legend.
