Striker left stranded in Munich as Blues pull out of record loan deal and shift focus to Sporting’s Conrad Harder
Chelsea have sensationally pulled the plug on Nicolas Jackson’s proposed loan move to Bayern Munich, only hours after the striker touched down in Germany to complete his switch. The dramatic U-turn came in the wake of Liam Delap’s hamstring injury against Fulham, which has left manager Enzo Maresca with just one fit senior striker, Joao Pedro.
Bayern had agreed to pay a record loan fee of £13 million with an option to buy Jackson permanently for £56.2 million. However, Chelsea revoked the permission previously granted for the 24-year-old to undergo a medical, leaving the player stranded in Munich and desperate for the transfer to be revived. Despite his hopes, the expectation is now that Jackson will return to London and rejoin the first-team squad.
The Blues’ stance is firm: Jackson remains their player, and if Bayern want him, they must commit to a permanent transfer rather than a loan. Sources close to the negotiations insist Chelsea is not bluffing, making it clear that the club will only sanction his exit if guaranteed funds are secured to reinvest in a replacement forward. With just two days left in the transfer window and a limited pool of available strikers, the situation has become increasingly complex.
Chelsea is currently holding talks with Sporting Lisbon over highly rated forward Conrad Harder, a target also being monitored by RB Leipzig and AC Milan. The club is scrambling to add reinforcements, with their attacking options reduced to the bare minimum following Delap’s injury setback.
For Jackson, the episode has been particularly bruising. After extending his contract last September until 2033, the forward had hoped to seize the opportunity of becoming Harry Kane’s long-term successor in Bavaria. Instead, he faces an awkward return to Stamford Bridge, where he has been training with the squad in anticipation of either outcome.
Chelsea’s leadership, in consultation with Maresca, concluded that loaning Jackson would leave the squad dangerously short in attack. “When you have two strikers, it’s enough. When one is injured, it probably is not enough,” Maresca explained after the Fulham game, underlining the decision to cancel the move.
While Bayern explored ways of reviving the deal, including switching to a permanent transfer, their preference remains for a loan arrangement. With the German champions only in the market for temporary deals, the gap between both clubs’ positions appears too wide to bridge before the deadline.
The fallout has cast Jackson into limbo. He was granted travel permission that has since been withdrawn, and with no paperwork signed, Chelsea retains full control of the striker’s immediate future. Though disappointed, the forward is expected to rejoin Chelsea’s set-up, barring a late breakthrough.
Amid the turbulence surrounding Jackson, Chelsea has intensified efforts elsewhere in the market. A formal written bid worth around £36.6 million (€40m) has been submitted to Barcelona for midfielder Fermin Lopez, signalling the Blues’ determination to strengthen their squad before the window closes.
This dramatic episode underscores the fine margins and sudden twists of modern transfer dealings. For now, Chelsea holds their ground, Bayern faces frustration, and Jackson must prepare to wear blue once again, at least until the next window opens.
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