Bayern Munich have made a final decision on the future of Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson ahead of his loan expiring at the end of the season, according to The Times.
The Senegal international made a surprise move to the Allianz Arena last summer on a season-long loan move, with the Bundesliga outfit having the obligation to make the deal permanent by paying £56.2m on top of the initial £14.3m loan fee that was agreed with the Blues, should he trigger some conditions.
Those conditions are understood to be making at least 40 appearances, with Jackson featuring for at least 45 minutes in each of them. However, he is nowhere near close to that, having made 22 appearances for the club and only seven of them being for more than 45 minutes, and it has now emerged that Bayern have made up their mind on keeping him beyond this season.
Jackson Expected to Return to Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson in action for Senegal
It's understood that while Jackson has scored five goals in his limited game time with Bayern, the German champions are highly unlikely to make the move permanent in the summer without triggering the obligation conditions.
That means the 24-year-old is likely to return to Stamford Bridge as a result, and the idea of him staying as part of Liam Rosenior's squad next season has not been ruled out.
His future in west London looked bleak last summer after the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, while Chelsea also agreed a deal to sign Emmanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg for next season too. But after Enzo Maresca departed at the start of this year, it's possible that he could now be reintegrated, and Jackson is understood to be keeping his options open.
Chelsea tried to cancel the deal for Jackson to join Bayern at the last minute last summer, when Delap pulled up with a hamstring injury while he was travelling for his medical.
However, the striker stayed in Munich and forced through the move on loan, and Chelsea instead recalled Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland to ensure they weren't left short in attack.
Jackson's Chelsea Future Unclear
Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson celebrates
Premier League - West Ham United v Chelsea - London Stadium, London, Britain - September 21, 2024 Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Despite having a good record at Chelsea during his two seasons with the club, where he scored 30 goals in 81 appearances and was a key member of the side that won the UEFA Conference League.
But the former Villarreal man wants to play regular football and after finding himself falling down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, a move away looked best for all parties.
However, with a new manager in charge now, there is a chance that he could find himself moving back up the list, and that could instead tempt him to stay put, rather than seek a new challenge elsewhere.
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