The package was valued at up to €80 million.
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“It’s one of the smallest squads I’ve ever played in,” Harry Kane stated following Bayern Munich’s 2-1 victory over Stuttgart in the Franz-Beckenbauer Supercup. “There’s still time left before the transfer window closes, but those decisions lie with [director of sport] Max [Eberl] and [sporting director] Christoph [Freund], along with the coach.” Bayern’s management had plans to bring in Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea on loan with an option to buy. However, a report from The Athletic indicates the deal has now fallen through following an injury to Liam Delap during Chelsea’s recent match against Fulham.
With Delap sidelined, Chelsea is left with only one seasoned striker, João Pedro. Earlier today, Chelsea transferred Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan. The loan of Jackson to Bayern was projected to cost €15 million for the season and would have marked the largest loan agreement in Bundesliga history. In comparison, Bayern had previously loaned Colombian star James Rodríguez for two years at a cost of €13 million, while they received €10 million to loan Mathys Tel to Tottenham. Initially, Chelsea aimed to offload Jackson outright, but a substantial loan fee was necessary to facilitate his move to Munich. The loan included an option to purchase for €65 million. Despite Jackson being present in Munich, the agreement is now off.
Nicolas Jackson joined Chelsea two years ago for €37 million from Villarreal. Since then, he has netted 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 appearances across all competitions. The physically strong striker, who plays for the Senegal national team, is versatile enough to function as a number 9 or on the wing. Unfortunately for Bayern, their transfer window has not gone smoothly. The club missed out on securing Florian Wirtz from Liverpool and Nick Woltemade from Newcastle, and they also lost out on Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who has signed with AC Milan. Additionally, Kingsley Coman transferred to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while Leroy Sané moved to Galatasaray on a free transfer. Now, Jackson adds to Bayern’s list of unfulfilled transfer pursuits.
Why was Bayern Munich eager to sign Nicolas Jackson?
Amidst a series of failed transfer attempts and player exits, Bayern Munich’s squad has shrunk to 25 players. This includes four goalkeepers and youth players Lennart Karl (17), Wisdom Mike (16), and Jonah Kusi-Asare (18). Moreover, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are currently dealing with long-term injuries. Despite these challenges, Freund and Eberl have been directed to search solely for short-term loan alternatives, as the board aims to reserve funds for a major transfer push next summer.
However, sourcing that short-term solution has proven difficult, and with Jackson no longer an option, the search continues. The 24-year-old could have been an ideal addition for Bayern, capable of playing on the wing and providing head coach Vincent Kompany with tactical flexibility. Most importantly, Jackson would have allowed Kane some much-needed rest as they navigate a World Cup year. What lies ahead? Bayern now has just 48 hours to find and secure another target, making it a challenging, if not nearly impossible, task before the transfer window closes on Monday.
