Loaning Nicolas Jackson was Chelsea’s biggest transfer error — his absence has hurt Cole Palmer’s performance.
When discussing the most regrettable deals from last summer, Chelsea fans are likely to highlight Alejandro Garnacho, followed by Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens. Nevertheless, within the Blues’ dressing room, the decision to send Nicolas Jackson on loan to Bayern Munich is regarded as the club’s most damaging move.
This sentiment is not solely due to Jackson’s prowess as a top striker; the £60million signing, Joao Pedro, has demonstrated greater effectiveness in chance conversion.
However, seasoned Chelsea players believe that Jackson offered a distinct skill set that the team desperately misses this season.
A source stated: “Jackson would make runs behind the defense, serving as a target for teammates and simultaneously creating space for others.”
“Conversely, Joao Pedro often drops deeper.”
While Chelsea players recognize Jackson’s limitations, they feel he allowed creative talents like Cole Palmer to influence matches more significantly.
The source added: “You could send a long ball forward, and although Jackson may not be the ideal player, his strength and speed meant he constantly battled for possession.”
“He effectively advanced the team up the pitch.”
“Cole’s difficulties are apparent, but several other Chelsea players are also underperforming.”
“This is partly a tactical issue, as the midfield is rather congested.”
Statistics from last season reveal that Jackson’s activity was concentrated in the opposition penalty area, whereas Pedro primarily operates just outside the box.
This positioning aligns with Palmer’s strengths when playing as a No 10, as well as where he drifts in from the right side.
Enzo Fernandez also appears in that space during attacking phases, while Chelsea prefers inverted wingers like Garnacho, Estevao, and Pedro Neto, who cut inside onto their stronger foot.
Although Delap plays in a similar area to Jackson, he lacks the same impact.
The numbers confirm this, showing that Chelsea has scored fewer goals, created fewer chances, had fewer touches in the opposition penalty area, and completed less passes into the final third this season.
While these criticisms may seem harsh towards Pedro, he remains one of the few silver linings in Chelsea’s campaign.
Statistically, Pedro has outperformed Jackson in converting chances into shots on target—and subsequently into goals.
Pedro’s stunning overhead kick during stoppage time in the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest marked his 20th goal of the season.
Despite dealing with minor injuries, the former Brighton star has shown incredible resilience this season.
However, while Pedro enjoys an individually impressive season, Chelsea’s overall performance has declined.
Having previously excelled at Brighton as a No 10, many anticipated he would fill that role at Chelsea.
Interim head coach Calum McFarlane commented: “Right now, he’s probably most at ease as a No 9. However, given his skill set and talent, he can adapt to various roles. I wouldn’t want to confine him to just one position.”
Nonetheless, due to current circumstances, Pedro has become Chelsea’s primary No 9.
The signing of Delap for £30m prompted Jackson to reconsider his future, leading the club, the player, and agents to agree that a loan move to Bayern for a tidy £14m fee was the best option.
This decision seemed unwise when Delap suffered a hamstring injury just before the summer transfer window closed. Meanwhile, Jackson resisted attempts to end his loan prematurely.
In response, Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from Sunderland, yet he has received limited playtime despite Delap’s difficulties, as shown by the statistics.
Chelsea fans and management may never know how the season would have unfolded had they kept Jackson, whether as a starter or a backup eager to compete for his position.
What’s evident is that the players miss him. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for both Jackson and Delap upon Jackson’s return from Munich this summer.