Chelsea Block Nicolas Jackson’s Bayern Move After Liam Delap Injury — Striker Furious

Chelsea’s transfer window has taken another dramatic turn as the club pulled the plug on Nicolas Jackson’s proposed loan move to Bayern Munich following Liam Delap’s untimely injury setback. The decision, while logical from a squad depth perspective, has left Jackson frustrated and Bayern scrambling for alternatives.

The 21-year-old Delap, who arrived from Ipswich Town in a £30 million deal earlier this summer, suffered a hamstring injury just 14 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham. He immediately signalled to the bench in distress before being substituted, with manager Enzo Maresca later confirming that the striker is expected to miss up to eight weeks.

That blow has completely shifted Chelsea’s stance on Jackson’s future. Prior to Delap’s injury, Bayern and Chelsea had reached an agreement for the Senegalese striker to move on loan with an option to buy, a package reportedly worth around €80 million (£69 million). The move was seen as a win-win: Bayern would strengthen their frontline, and Chelsea would trim their squad while also raising potential funds for future reinforcements.

But with Delap sidelined, Chelsea could not afford to leave themselves short of strikers. At present, João Pedro remains their only other senior forward, and relying on just one recognised option across multiple competitions was deemed too risky. As a result, the club informed Bayern that Jackson’s loan deal was off the table.

The decision has not gone down well with Jackson, who had been preparing for a new chapter in the Bundesliga. After an inconsistent debut campaign with Chelsea, in which he scored 14 goals across all competitions, the 23-year-old was keen on a fresh start at Bayern, where he would have competed at the highest level and worked under a system well-suited to his style. Sources suggest he feels let down by the late U-turn, describing himself as “furious” at how events unfolded.

Speaking after the Fulham victory, Chelsea boss Maresca admitted the club had no choice but to reassess. “When you have two strikers it is enough, but when one of them is injured for weeks, it is not enough,” he said. “We tried Tyrique [George] today and he did brilliant. Pedro Neto has also been used as a No.9 before, but proper strikers are very difficult to replace. That’s why Jackson must stay.”

Maresca’s words underline the fragility of Chelsea’s striking options. Despite Jackson’s uneven form, he remains a vital component in ensuring the Blues can rotate effectively and remain competitive in the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups. Losing him and Delap simultaneously would have left Chelsea dangerously exposed.

For Bayern, the collapse of the deal represents a major setback. The German champions have been hunting for attacking reinforcements to ease the pressure on their front line, and Jackson was seen as an ideal fit. With the Bundesliga season underway, they must now pivot quickly in the market to avoid being left short of firepower.

The timing is particularly painful for Chelsea too. Jackson’s departure would not only have provided financial breathing room but also cleared space for potential future signings. Instead, the club now faces the challenge of managing a dissatisfied player who had mentally prepared for life away from Stamford Bridge.

João Pedro is now expected to shoulder the bulk of Chelsea’s goal-scoring burden while Delap recovers. The Brazilian striker, signed from Brighton for £52 million earlier in the window, has already demonstrated his quality in the Premier League but will now have to adapt to being the main man in a Chelsea side still finding consistency under Maresca.

Meanwhile, young academy product Tyrique George impressed after being thrown into the spotlight against Fulham, but relying on an 18-year-old for regular minutes would be a huge gamble. Maresca may also look to Pedro Neto as a false-nine option in certain matches, but the lack of natural depth remains a lingering concern.

This episode also highlights Chelsea’s long-standing struggles to find a reliable centre-forward since Diego Costa’s departure in 2017. Big-name signings such as Álvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, and Gonzalo Higuaín all failed to live up to expectations, leaving the club stuck in a cycle of short-term fixes and unsettled strikers.

For now, Chelsea must rally around their remaining options and hope Jackson can channel his frustration into strong performances. His goals could prove crucial in ensuring the team stays competitive while Delap works his way back to fitness.

The big question, however, is whether Jackson’s relationship with the club can be repaired after this dramatic U-turn — or if his long-term future at Stamford Bridge has already been written elsewhere.