Liam Rosenior’s words suggest trouble for Liam Delap as Bayern Munich reach £70m decision
Nicolas Jackson is set to return to Chelsea after it emerged that Bayern Munich are unlikely to trigger his obligation-to-buy clause.
The striker joined the Bundesliga champions last summer, in a loan deal that would be turned permanent if he made around 40 appearances.
But Jackson has featured just 22 times across all competitions this season, and has not scored since November.
According to The Times, Bayern are unlikely to trigger the clause and Jackson is expected to return to Chelsea in the summer.
The Senegal international had ultimately forced his way out under Enzo Maresca, but the Italian’s January exit could see the opening of a route back at Stamford Bridge.
Liam Rosenior could be offer Nicolas Jackson a chance
Jackson signed an eight-year deal with Chelsea when he arrived from Villarreal in 2023 in a deal worth around £32million.
The striker enjoyed an extremely positive first season, scoring 17 goals in 44 games across all competitions, and adding five assists as well.
The Senegal international had blots in his game – that season, he generated a massive 18.6 expected goals (xG), but was prone to high-profile misses.
| Nicolas Jackson | Premier League 2024-25 |
| Appearances | 30 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Chances created | 28 |
| Successful dribbles | 18 |
| Duels won | 90 |
Still, for a young striker’s first season in the Premier League, there was plenty to be positive about with Jackson.
The forward started the 2024-25 season in similar fashion, but began to frustrate at the season drew on.
At the Club World Cup in the summer, the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, combined with Jackson’s needless red card in a loss to Flamengo, saw his position in the Chelsea squad entirely diminished.
The 24-year-old was missing from the squad for the first three Premier League games, and eventually got his move to Bayern.
When he returns in the summer, he will be returning to a new manager, and one who could be willing to give him another chance.
“I said to the players when I came in, it’s a clean slate for everybody,” Liam Rosenior said when asked about Axel Disasi after his January appointment.
“So it was only right for me to have a conversation with him. Really good conversation. I got to know him really, really well. It was the right thing to be back involved with the group.”
Liam Delap may soon be looking over his shoulder
Despite all of the frustration with Jackson, the striker has been a reliable difference-maker throughout his time at Chelsea.
In just 65 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old has scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists – very strong numbers.
The same cannot be said of Liam Delap, who signed for the Blues from Ipswich Town in the summer.
The Englishman has just two goals in 24 games across all competitions this season, and Chelsea may even decide to cut their losses in the coming months.
Should they do so, and if Rosenior can convince Jackson that his future still lies at Stamford Bridge, they have a capable replacement waiting in the wings.