Chelsea can forget about keeping Nicolas Jackson and give top youngster big first team chance

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After Chelsea looked as if they had confirmed another player’s exit from Stamford Bridge, a manic 24 hours has completely changed the picture.

Nicolas Jackson was in Germany on Saturday to finalise a move to Bayern Munich, initially on a one-year loan.

However, after summer signing Liam Delap picked up an injury in the win over Fulham, the Blues made the decision to cancel his expected deal, requiring him to return to Stamford Bridge.

Even this has hit a stumble as far as Chelsea are concerned. Jackson does not want to return to Stamford Bridge, with him relishing the chance at playing for the Bundesliga champions.

Chelsea should hand Shumaira Mheuka first team chance instead of keeping Nicolas Jackson

If there is an Alexander Isak-type situation in the offing, then Enzo Maresca should look to a bit closer to home rather than make any emergency late signings.

When it comes to the youngsters at Cobham, no one has been in better goalscoring form than Shumaira Mheuka, who is off to a flying start for the Chelsea U21s.

Mheuka scored five goals in his first three games, including a remarkable hat-trick against fellow big-hitters Manchester City.

It is clear that Maresca has belief in the youngster after he featured him on a handful of occasions during the 2024/25 campaign.

Mheuka started in the Conference League knockout tie against Copenhagen, as the Blues progressed towards eventually winning that competition.

If the club do not grant Maresca another signing, he should certainly look to the youngster as the answer, with Joao Pedro likely to start up front anyway.

Chelsea weighing up a new striker before deadline day

The Blues have told Jackson that he can leave if they sign a new striker before Monday’s deadline, even if they are rapidly running out of time to do so.

Conrad Harder has been mentioned as a potential target for Chelsea, however he is set for a big season at Sporting Lisbon as the replacement for Viktor Gyokeres.

Delap could be set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines, and they certainly need another option to lead the line, even if it is off the bench.

It remains to be seen whether Jackson will eventually accept this, however Maresca should look to the academy for a promising option in Mheuka who is no doubt hungry to prove his point.