Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has advised his old club to welcome Nicolas Jackson back into the first-team setup following the Senegalese forward’s loan spell with Bayern Munich.
Jackson was made available for transfer last summer after falling out of favour under then-manager Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea were ultimately only able to secure a loan deal for the 25-year-old despite wanting a permanent sale. During his time in Bavaria, Jackson scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Vincent Kompany’s side, however, Bayern opted not to trigger their €65 million option-to-buy.
Consequently, Jackson will return to Stamford Bridge after representing Senegal at the 2026 World Cup. Prior to his temporary move, Jackson had found the net 30 times in 81 games for Chelsea, and Hasselbaink believes new manager Xabi Alonso should afford him an opportunity next season. Speaking to FootballTransfers on behalf of 10bet, Hasselbaink stated he “always liked” Jackson and was surprised to see him leave in the first place.
He highlighted Jackson’s energy, pressing ability, and knack for getting into goalscoring positions as valuable assets. While acknowledging the player’s tendency to miss chances, Hasselbaink believes this is a consequence of his proactive movement and that Chelsea could benefit from that profile. He suggested Jackson could contribute in multiple positions, both as a central striker and cutting in from the left wing.
As of now, Chelsea haven’t made a final decision regarding Jackson’s future, though reports indicate he will be given a chance to impress Alonso during pre-season. The club has recently completed the signing of Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, set to officially join in July, but his role within Alonso’s plans remains unconfirmed. Jackson is currently competing with Liam Delap for a place in the squad, with rumours suggesting Chelsea may sanction a permanent sale for one of the two players this summer.
Delap, who arrived from Ipswich Town last year, struggled to make an impact in his debut season with only two goals in 41 appearances, leading to suggestions that Chelsea would be better served retaining Jackson’s services.
