Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has publicly questioned the club's controversial decision to sell striker Nicolas Jackson, insisting the Blues are currently "missing" the forward's impact during the ongoing campaign. Jackson initially joined Chelsea in a £32 million transfer from Villarreal in 2023, enjoying a promising debut season where he netted 17 goals across all competitions.
Jackson's Productive Partnership and Subsequent Struggles
The Senegal international quickly formed a highly effective partnership with attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, directly contributing to the England star winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award following his own move from Manchester City. However, Jackson's influence noticeably diminished during his second season at Stamford Bridge, attracting significant criticism from various pundits for his inconsistent finishing in front of goal.
Chelsea's Striker Overhaul and Current Options
It rapidly became apparent that Chelsea intended to replace Jackson during last summer's transfer window, with the club welcoming Joao Pedro in a £60 million move from Brighton and Liam Delap in a £30 million transfer. Jackson was subsequently sent on a season-long loan to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, leaving Pedro and Delap as Chelsea's primary striker options for the current campaign.
While Pedro has largely impressed with 19 goals across all competitions since his high-profile arrival, former Ipswich Town forward Delap has managed just two goals following his substantial transfer fee. Obi Mikel has specifically questioned both Pedro and Delap, asserting that neither forward has provided Chelsea with the unique qualities Jackson demonstrated during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel's Direct Comments on Jackson's Absence
"We are missing Nicolas Jackson," the Chelsea hero stated emphatically on his YouTube channel. "What he gave us, no striker has given us. So yes, we are missing Jackson." Bayern Munich paid an eye-watering £14.3 million merely to secure Jackson on loan for the 2025-26 campaign, with the German giants additionally agreeing to a permanent transfer worth £56 million this summer if specific performance conditions were met.
Jackson's Bayern Munich Situation and Potential Return
Jackson has failed to play sufficient matches to activate the permanent transfer clause, meaning Bayern must now renegotiate a new agreement with Chelsea or return the striker to Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old was reportedly delighted to join Bayern Munich and initially wanted to remain at the Allianz Arena, but sources indicate he is now "open" to returning to west London.
Broader Criticism of Chelsea's Transfer Decision
Obi Mikel is not the only prominent pundit to question Chelsea's decision to offload Jackson, with Paul Merson and Paul Scholes voicing similar opinions earlier in the season. Jackson has served primarily as backup to England captain Harry Kane at Bayern, limiting his overall impact, yet he remains on track to potentially win both the Bundesliga and Champions League trophies.
Vincent Kompany's Bayern side currently lead the Bundesliga by 15 points and prepare to face Real Madrid for a Champions League semi-final place. Meanwhile, Jackson's parent club Chelsea have lost five of their last six matches, slipping to sixth in the Premier League and crashing out of the Champions League entirely, highlighting the ongoing striker issues Mikel has identified.
