Chelsea are considering a signing a new striker before the transfer window closes — in case Nicolas Jackson leaves permanently.
Jackson was set to join Bayern Munich on loan until Chelsea lost Liam Delap to a hamstring injury and The Athletic revealed they had revoked Jackson’s permission to undergo a medical, asking him to return from Germany. The London club now do not intend to let the 24-year-old Senegal international make a temporary switch under any circumstances.
As things stand, Chelsea expect Jackson to rejoin head coach Enzo Maresca’s first team squad for a packed schedule of domestic and European competition. They are, however, studying contingency plans for the event of suitable proposals arriving prior to Monday’s trading deadline.
A perceived lack of credible loan options means full-time acquisitions are being explored and they have already made multiple enquiries, including for Sporting CP and Denmark attacker Conrad Harder.
Chelsea confirmed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United on Saturday as their ninth arrival this summer.
Delap, who signed for Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30million ($40m) this summer, was withdrawn on 14 minutes after pulling up at Stamford Bridge and immediately gesturing to his hamstring. He was replaced by Tyrique George.
Delap’s injury and Jackson’s proposed departure would have left summer signing Joao Pedro as Chelsea’s only recognised senior striker.
“When you have two strikers it is enough, when one of them is injured for weeks it is not enough,” Maresca said at full time on Saturday. “Today we played for more than one hour with Tyrique and he did brilliant.
“The last time he played as a No 9 was against Manchester United last year. We tried to use different solutions. If you remember there were some games where we used Pedro (Neto) as a No 9. But for sure when you have two proper No 9’s it is enough.”
Bayern Munich’s Director of Sport Max Eberl told Sky later on Saturday: “Chelsea have informed us that they want the player back – after we had reached an agreement yesterday and were allowed to conduct the medical.
“Now the situation is that the boy is in Munich and we have to send him back. That’s the current state of affairs, I can’t look into the future.”
Jackson’s Chelsea future had been the subject of uncertainty throughout the summer after he dropped behind summer arrivals Delap and Joao Pedro in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
He was left out of Maresca’s squad for the pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Milan as Chelsea and the striker explored a possible transfer in the final weeks of the summer window.