Chelsea’s transfer window has taken another dramatic twist after the club cancelled Nicolas Jackson’s proposed loan move to Bayern Munich in the wake of Liam Delap’s injury setback. The decision, though logical from a squad depth perspective, has left Jackson frustrated and Bayern scrambling for alternatives.
Delap, who joined from Ipswich Town in a £30 million deal earlier this summer, suffered a hamstring injury just 14 minutes into Chelsea’s 2–0 victory over Fulham. He signalled immediately to the bench before being substituted, with manager Enzo Maresca later confirming the striker is expected to be out for up to eight weeks.
Before Delap’s injury, Chelsea and Bayern had already agreed on a deal for Jackson to join the German champions on loan with an option to buy — a package reportedly worth around €80 million (£69 million). The move was viewed as mutually beneficial: Bayern would add depth to their frontline, while Chelsea would trim their squad and raise potential funds for future reinforcements.
However, Delap’s absence forced Chelsea to rethink. With João Pedro as their only other senior striker, the Blues deemed it too risky to sanction Jackson’s departure. The club informed Bayern that the deal was off, leaving the German side to explore other targets with the Bundesliga season already underway.
The late reversal has angered Jackson, who had been preparing for a fresh start in the Bundesliga. After scoring 14 goals in his debut Chelsea season, the 23-year-old had hoped to reignite his career under a system suited to his style. Sources suggest he feels “furious” at how quickly the agreement collapsed.
Speaking after the Fulham win, Maresca explained the decision:
“When you have two strikers it is enough, but when one of them is injured for weeks, it is not enough. We tried Tyrique [George] today and he did brilliant. Pedro Neto has also been used as a No.9 before, but proper strikers are very difficult to replace. That’s why Jackson must stay.”
Maresca’s comments underline Chelsea’s fragile depth in attack. Despite his inconsistency, Jackson remains crucial to ensuring rotation across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups. Losing both him and Delap would have left the Blues dangerously exposed.
The collapse of the deal also stings Chelsea financially. Jackson’s exit would have freed up funds and squad space for further business, but instead the club must now manage a dissatisfied player who had already mentally prepared for life away from Stamford Bridge.
João Pedro will now shoulder the bulk of the goal-scoring burden. Signed from Brighton for £52 million, the Brazilian has already shown his quality but faces the pressure of leading the line while Delap recovers. Academy graduate Tyrique George, who impressed against Fulham, may see more minutes, though relying heavily on the 18-year-old would be a huge gamble. Maresca could also turn to Pedro Neto as a false-nine option in certain fixtures.
This saga once again highlights Chelsea’s long-running struggles to secure a consistent centre-forward since Diego Costa’s departure in 2017. High-profile names such as Álvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, and Gonzalo Higuaín all failed to cement the role, leaving the club in a cycle of short-term fixes.
For now, Chelsea must rally around Jackson and hope he channels his frustration into strong performances. His goals may prove vital in keeping the team competitive until Delap returns — but whether his long-term future at Stamford Bridge has already been written elsewhere remains the bigger question.
