Nicolas Jackson looks set to return to Chelsea this summer, although he may not have a long-term future in west London.
It's a suggestion that was made by Jason Cundy on talkSPORT's Inside Chelsea show amid his lack of minutes on loan at Bayern Munich.
Nicolas Jackson playing for Bayern Munich.
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Jackson is unlikely to make a permanent switch to Bayern at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
Jackson joined Bayern in the summer on a deal that runs through to the end of the season, with an obligation to buy worth £56.2million.
Chelsea wanted to cancel the move amid an injury to Liam Delap, but the Senegal international eventually signed for the German giants.
The obligation to buy clause becomes active if certain conditions are met, but this does not look set to be a future outcome.
As per The Times, Jackson must play at least 45 minutes in each of his required 40 appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
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However, the 24-year-old has featured just 21 times across both, and played at least 45 minutes on just eight occasions.
Jackson is therefore not expected to complete a permanent transfer to Bayern and instead make his way back to Chelsea.
On the latest episode of Inside Chelsea, the summer arrival of Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg was discussed.
However, ex-Blues defender Cundy questioned Jackson's future and when asked if he'd have him back, he said: "I'd have a look at him.
"I just wonder whether the relationship with the club has just fallen out too far... that relationship is dead, that's how it feels.
"The fact that it wasn't the same manager [Enzo Maresca, now Liam Rosenior]..."
Nicolas Jackson playing for Chelsea.
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Jackson's future at Chelsea remains up in the air ahead of his pending returnCredit: Getty
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior.
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It remains to be seen if Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior will want to keep himCredit: Getty
Toby Evenden also weighed in on the forward, who signed for £32m from Villarreal in 2023, as he added: "I liked Jackson, I thought Jackson was a very good player.
"But I'm with you Jason... I think it was on deadline day, we were asking him, 'We could do with this, Delap's had an injury'.
"And he still wasn't having any of it, just to be a back-up for [Harry] Kane, he was never going to start ahead of Harry Kane.
"But that determination to just go there to be a squad player would indicate to me there's just no real interest of him wanting to stay here, which is a shame ultimately."
Jackson has made 81 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 30 goals and assisting another 12.
He won the Conference League and Club World Cup with the Blues at the end of last season before making the move to Bayern.
Nicolas Jackson celebrates for Chelsea.
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Jackson has a decent goals per game record in Chelsea coloursCredit: Getty
Delap to leave on loan?
Emegha will join Joao Pedro, Delap, Marc Guiu and Jackson as senior striker options at Chelsea this summer.
Pedro has been one of the standout players of Chelsea's season with 13 goals, whilst Guiu has played only 447 minutes.
Delap, on the other hand, has featured 24 times in his debut campaign but struggled to replicate the form he showed at Ipswich Town.
The striker has netted only two goals and if another forward was to sign ahead of next season, then Cundy believes he will leave on loan.
"Probably... he might ask," he said. "Because you don't want to be third choice.
"If you're playing one striker, you don't want to be third choice, your minutes are going to be very, very limited.
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Chelsea striker Liam Delap in action against Barcelona
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Delap may look for a loan exit amid an increase in competition at strikerCredit: Getty
"I suspect that if it is the case... I don't want to get rid of him, I think there's still a player in there worth persevering with from what we saw at Ipswich.
"It's been a tricky time for him, but he needs to play. Him sitting on the bench, being third choice striker, that's not enough."
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