Could Chelsea finally see Christopher Nkunku & Romeo Lavia?! Mauricio Pochettino gives positive injury update on big-money summer signings ahead of Brighton clash

The pair were snapped up by the Blues in the summer transfer window, but have barely been seen since. France international forward Nkunku suffered a serious knee injury during pre-season which required surgery. Lavia, meanwhile, has been nursing an ankle problem that has prevented him from making a competitive bow.

Both could come into contention to face Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Mauricio Pochettino telling reporters when asked if the duo are close to making his matchday squad: “We need to assess tomorrow and then decide. They are close, but we need tomorrow to make a decision. Maybe Lavia is the more difficult [one] but we need to assess Nkunku for tomorrow.”

Chelsea splashed out £52 million ($66m) on luring Nkunku away from RB Leipzig and are hoping that he will provide them with an attacking spark having hit 58 goals in the last two seasons combined. Lavia cost the Blues £53m ($67m) when he was prised from Southampton’s clutches, and the 19-year-old Belgium international is considered to be a hot prospect.

Chelsea are set to face Brighton sat 10th in the Premier League table, with Pochettino yet to restore consistency to the Blues’ performance despite over £1 billion ($1.3bn) being spent across the last three transfer windows at Stamford Bridge.