Nicolas Jackson Stands Firm, Rejects Chelsea Appeal to Return to Stamford Bridge After Delap Injury
- Chelsea attempted to recall Nicolas Jackson after Delap’s hamstring injury, but the striker has reportedly refused
- The Senegalese striker has arrived in Munich to complete his medical ahead of a loan move to Bayern
- Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge had been uncertain all summer after dropping down the pecking order
Chelsea have been dealt a huge blow in their plans to keep hold of Nicolas Jackson following the sudden injury blow to Liam Delap.
The 21-year-old England striker, who joined the Blues from Ipswich Town for £30 million, suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham and is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
Source: Getty Images
The setback immediately shifted Chelsea’s transfer plans, with the club attempting to reverse Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich with immediate effect, The Athletic reports.
Despite informing the German champions that they wanted to keep the 24-year-old forward, the player and his representatives stood firm, rejecting Chelsea’s attempt to force the striker back to the West London club.
Bayern loan move nears completion
Bayern Munich and Chelsea had already agreed on a season-long loan deal for Jackson, with an option to buy at the end of the campaign.
Source: Getty Images
The deal, reportedly worth around €80 million as a full package, would see the Senegal striker link up with the Bundesliga giants as they look to strengthen their attacking options before the transfer window closes, per Sky Sports.
Jackson had already been given the green light to travel to Germany and arrived in Munich on Saturday to undergo his medical.
Despite Chelsea’s last-minute attempt to halt the move, the striker’s camp refused the request, leaving the Blues with a depleted attack.
With Delap injured and Jackson set to leave, Chelsea’s attacking responsibilities will now fall heavily on Joao Pedro, who remains the only fit and senior striker available to Enzo Maresca.
Jackson’s Chelsea future in doubt
Jackson’s decision does not come as a surprise, given the uncertainty surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge throughout the summer.
The Senegal forward had slipped down the pecking order behind new signings Delap and Joao Pedro, and he was even left out of Chelsea’s pre-season squads for friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
Both the player and Chelsea had been exploring options available in the final weeks of the transfer window, making Bayern’s interest a timely opportunity.
For Jackson, the chance to feature regularly in Munich outweighed the prospect of being Chelsea’s second or third-choice forward in London.
Chelsea now face a challenging few weeks as they prepare for a crucial run of fixtures without enough players in their attacking department.
Unless Chelsea acts quickly in the transfer market, Maresca may have no choice but to rely on younger options such as Tyrique George to provide cover.
Jackson missing for Chelsea’s EPL opener
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Chelsea began their season with a London derby against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, and were saved by VAR, which ruled out Eberechi Eze's free kick to secure a point.
Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson, who missed the opening match due to suspension after picking up a red card against Newcastle last season, missed the game as well.
Source: Legit.ng
