Chelsea have reportedly rejected a loan offer from Bayern Munich for forward Christopher Nkunku, according to Sky Sports.

The Blues are understood to be interested only in sanctioning a permanent transfer for the French international this summer, as he does not feature in manager Enzo Maresca’s long-term plans.

Nkunku, 27, was notably absent from Chelsea’s squad in their goalless draw with Crystal Palace at the weekend, further fueling speculation about his uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern Munich had hoped to bring him back to the Bundesliga, where he previously flourished with RB Leipzig, scoring an incredible 33 goals in 34 league games before sealing his move to London. However, Chelsea have made it clear they are not entertaining another loan deal.

The Frenchman has also attracted interest from other European clubs, as his Stamford Bridge career struggles to ignite.

Opinion:
Nkunku’s Chelsea journey feels like one of football’s great “what if” stories. Arriving with huge expectations and a glittering scoring record from Leipzig, injuries and inconsistency have robbed him of the chance to truly shine in blue. Now, Maresca’s decision to move him on makes sense—it’s a brutal reminder that in modern football, patience is short, and results matter more than potential.

Rejecting Bayern’s loan offer is also a telling statement from Chelsea. They don’t want to risk another “loanee success” story where a player revives his form elsewhere only to walk back through the door with no guarantees. The club wants clarity: either Nkunku stays and fights for a role (unlikely), or someone makes a firm commitment to buy him.

For Nkunku himself, this could be a career-defining summer. Bayern would have been a comfortable option—a league he knows, a system that suits his technical brilliance. But if no permanent suitor steps up, he risks being stuck in limbo at a club that has already moved on.

The irony is, Chelsea fans have barely seen the “real” Nkunku—the dazzling playmaker who terrorized Bundesliga defenses. Whether his revival comes in Germany, Spain, or elsewhere, one thing is certain: he still has the talent to remind the football world why he was once one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards.