Chelsea’s Biggest Transfer Mistake: The Impact of Loaning Nicolas Jackson on Cole Palmer’s Performance.
In conversations about the biggest blunders from last summer, Chelsea supporters are likely to point to Alejandro Garnacho, followed closely by Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens. However, within the Blues’ locker room, sending Nicolas Jackson on loan to Bayern Munich is viewed as the club’s most detrimental decision.
This view isn’t solely rooted in Jackson’s ability as a leading striker; the £60million acquisition, Joao Pedro, has shown greater efficiency in converting chances.
Nonetheless, veteran Chelsea players believe that Jackson brought a unique skill set that the squad sorely lacks this season.
A source noted: “Jackson would make runs behind the defense, acting as a target for teammates while simultaneously creating space for others.”
“In contrast, Joao Pedro often drops deeper.”
While Chelsea players are aware of Jackson’s limitations, they feel his presence allowed creative talents like Cole Palmer to significantly influence matches.
The source added: “You could send a long ball forward, and even though Jackson may not be the ideal player, his strength and speed meant he was always fighting for possession.”
“He effectively moved the team up the pitch.”
“Cole’s struggles are noticeable, but other Chelsea players are also underperforming.”
“This is partly a tactical issue, as the midfield is quite congested.”
Statistics from last season reveal that Jackson’s activity was concentrated in the opposition penalty area, while Pedro primarily operates just outside the box.
This positioning complements Palmer’s strengths when he plays as a No 10, as well as where he drifts in from the right flank.
Enzo Fernandez also appears in that space during offensive phases, while Chelsea favors inverted wingers like Garnacho, Estevao, and Pedro Neto, who cut inside onto their stronger foot.
Although Delap occupies a similar zone to Jackson, he lacks the same impact.
The data confirms this, showing that Chelsea has scored fewer goals, created fewer chances, had fewer touches in the opposition penalty area, and completed fewer passes into the final third this season.
While these critiques may seem harsh towards Pedro, he remains one of the few bright spots in Chelsea’s campaign.
Statistically, Pedro has outperformed Jackson in turning chances into shots on target—and subsequently into goals.
Pedro’s spectacular overhead kick in stoppage time during the 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest marked his 20th goal of the season.
Despite dealing with minor injuries, the former Brighton player has demonstrated remarkable resilience this season.
However, while Pedro is enjoying an individually impressive season, Chelsea’s collective performance has taken a hit.
Having previously shone at Brighton as a No 10, many expected him to slot into that role at Chelsea.
Interim head coach Calum McFarlane remarked: “Right now, he’s probably most comfortable as a No 9. That said, given his skill set and talent, he can adapt to various positions. I wouldn’t want to limit him to just one role.”
Regardless, due to the current landscape, Pedro has become Chelsea’s primary No 9.
The acquisition of Delap for £30m led Jackson to reconsider his situation, resulting in an agreement among the club, the player, and agents that a loan move to Bayern for a tidy £14m fee was the most viable choice.
This decision appeared ill-timed when Delap suffered a hamstring injury just before the summer transfer window closed. Meanwhile, Jackson resisted efforts to end his loan prematurely.
In a reaction, Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from Sunderland, yet he has seen limited playing time despite Delap’s struggles, as highlighted by the stats.
Chelsea fans and management may never know how the season would have unfolded had they retained Jackson, whether as a starter or a backup eager to challenge for his position.
What’s clear is that the players miss him. It will be intriguing to see what the future holds for both Jackson and Delap upon Jackson’s return from Munich this summer.