It’s been quite an unforgettable summer for Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea.
There has been plenty of drama around Nicolas Jackson and his potential move away from the Blues. After a turbulent few days, the 24-year-old striker finally got his wish of signing for Bayern Munich.
Even though he had travelled to Germany late in the summer window, Chelsea cancelled Jackson’s loan move to Bayern following an injury to Liam Delap and requested that he return home. Thankfully for the Senegal international, that wasn’t the end of the transfer saga.
Bayern eventually agreed Jackson’s loan with an obligation to buy, so the deal was reignited and took place on Monday’s deadline day.
BBC Sport explains that Bayern are paying £14.3m to take Jackson on a season-long loan. Also, the German champions have an obligation to buy him for £56.2m if he makes a set number of appearances.
Nicolas Jackson arrives ahead of Chelsea against Tottenham in the Premier League.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Paul Merson stunned Premier League clubs didn’t sign Nicolas Jackson
While Paul Merson concedes that Jackson has secured a great transfer to Bundesliga powerhouses Bayern, he’s expressed his shock that Premier League teams didn’t push to sign him. For example, he suggested that Unai Emery’s Aston Villa should have signed the centre-forward from Chelsea.
Merson said on the Sky Sports News channel (2:50pm, 1 September): “I’m amazed no one has come in for Nicolas Jackson. How Newcastle have not gone after him I do not know…
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
“Nicolas Jackson is a handful. He made [Cole] Palmer as good as Palmer made him, in my opinion… Aston Villa don’t look like scoring a goal for toffee. There are deals to be done. I’m flabbergasted this lad has not gone anywhere…
“I think he’s a bit rough, but I’m shocked he’s not gone anywhere else. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got a lovely move to Bayern Munich, an amazing club, but everybody wants to play in the Premier League.”
Paul Merson on stage at the Legends of Football.
Photo by JMEnternational/Getty Images
In fairness, Jackson was on Newcastle’s transfer radar this summer, but they’ve signed Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade to reinforce their forward line after Alexander Isak’s exit to Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Villa didn’t actively pursue Jackson despite having the Chelsea attacker on their radar.
He’s proven in the last two seasons he can score goals and perform in the Premier League. Now, he will be looking to do the same in the Bundesliga with Bayern.
Appearances Goals Assists Yellow cards Red cards
65 24 10 17 1
Nicolas Jackson’s record in the Premier League for Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson playing for Chelsea against Manchester City in the Premier League.
Photo by Jan Kruger – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Why Nicolas Jackson could be in for a shock
Even though Jackson was sometimes criticised for his finishing at Chelsea, he was the undisputed first-choice striker for two years, starting pretty much every game. Therefore, it could be a shock to the system at his new club.
At Bayern, we would be surprised to see Jackson go straight into their starting line-up.
The reality is he will have to play second fiddle to Harry Kane for the striker role. Alternatively, he does have the versatility to play off the left, but talented winger Luis Diaz has made an excellent start at the Allianz Arena since his move this summer.
We suspect Jackson would start for a lot of teams in the Premier League, but he’s going to compete in Vincent Kompany’s talented Bayern squad.