Chelsea fans can expect a familiar face back on the field next season as Senegalese international, Nicolas Jackson, is set to return from his loan spell at Bayern Munich. The German giants have reportedly decided not to make his move permanent.
Jackson first made waves in the football world during his time at Villarreal. His impressive performances caught the attention of Chelsea scouts, leading to a £32 million transfer deal in 2023. Initially an integral part of Chelsea's plans, Jackson gradually fell down the pecking order due to changes in team strategy and player acquisitions.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was uncertain about relying on Jackson as their primary attacker. This led them to sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap last summer, which further pushed Jackson towards an exit.
The 24-year-old forward eventually joined Bayern Munich on a season-long loan after some negotiation between both clubs. Despite an injury scare with Delap that almost saw Chelsea canceling his move at the last minute, it was clear that Jackson was keen for a change of scenery.
Struggles at Bayern Munich
Despite high hopes for his stint with Bayern Munich, things haven't quite worked out for him there either. He has been involved in only 22 matches and accumulated fewer than 700 minutes of first-team action so far this season.
While he contributed towards six goals during this period, these performances were not enough to impress Vincent Kompany or secure him a permanent place within Bayern’s squad. Bayern had initially paid £14.3 million as an initial loan fee when they secured his services last summer and agreed upon an obligation-to-buy clause worth £56.2 million if he played a certain number of games - expectedly around 40, with at least 45 minutes in each.
However, given his limited game time and less than stellar performances, it seems unlikely that Bayern will trigger this clause. This means Jackson is set to return to Chelsea ahead of next season. As the football world awaits the official confirmation of Jackson's return to Chelsea, fans and pundits alike are keenly watching how this move might affect both clubs' strategies moving forward. Will he be able to reclaim his place in Chelsea's lineup or will he be on the move again? Only time will tell.
