Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson has been compared to Kai Havertz following the team’s recent Premier League struggles. Enzo Maresca’s side extended their winless streak to five games on Tuesday, securing a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth thanks to a late equalizer from Reece James.
Jackson, who has scored nine goals this season, hasn’t found the net since Chelsea’s last league victory against Brentford on December 15. Although he assisted Cole Palmer’s opening goal, he later missed a crucial opportunity, shooting over the bar. He also squandered another chance before halftime, with his header saved by Bournemouth’s Mark Travers and his rebound hitting the side-netting.
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley suggested that Jackson’s inconsistency could become a concern for Maresca, as Chelsea currently sit fourth in the Premier League. “There’s been more good than bad from Jackson this season,” Burley remarked to ESPN. “But like Kai Havertz at Arsenal, he might be better suited as a substitute or for cup games. You need a top No.9, and Jackson could be a solid backup option. Maresca may look to strengthen that position moving forward.”
Havertz, for his part, has faced criticism for his own inconsistency in front of goal. The Arsenal forward missed a crucial chance in his team’s League Cup loss to Newcastle and saw his penalty saved in their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. His struggles echo his time at Chelsea, where, despite scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final, he managed just 32 goals in 139 appearances before his £65 million move to Arsenal.
Chelsea have been linked with Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel as they consider bolstering their attack. Burley believes that while Jackson has shown improvement since last season, he’s far from becoming the “next Didier Drogba” and may need to be replaced with a more clinical striker. “At one point, they might have thought Christopher Nkunku could fill that role, but that doesn’t seem to be the case,” he said. “Top teams competing for titles all have an elite forward, while Jackson is just okay.”
This season, Chelsea have largely relied on Cole Palmer, who has scored 14 Premier League goals, while Noni Madueke ranks third with just five goals.
