Bayern Munich’s director of sport, Max Eberl, has confirmed that the club will not trigger the option-to-buy clause in Nicolas Jackson’s contract at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old striker joined Bayern at the beginning of the season, with the German giants agreeing to pay £14.3 million for his services this campaign.
The agreement included a £56.2 million obligation to buy if he reached a certain number of appearances, but that is not set to be triggered. Daily Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill reported in February that Chelsea are not anticipating Bayern will pursue a separate permanent deal.
‘We will not trigger the option for Nicolas Jackson,’ Eberl confirmed on German television broadcaster ZDF at the end of last week.
Daily Mail Sport reported in February that Chelsea plan to assess the best way forward for everyone at the end of this season, including whether they should seek a sale again or if he should stay as a member of Liam Rosenior’s squad.
Whether that has changed since Rosenior was shown the door last week remains to be seen.
The 24-year-old striker joined Bayern at the beginning of the season, with the German giants agreeing to pay £14.3 million for his services this campaign
Jackson joined Bayern last September after his relationship with then-manager Enzo Maresca had broken down. He insisted on the move despite Chelsea considering cancelling the deal at the eleventh hour when Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury.
Delap pulled up with his issue on the same day that Jackson was travelling to Munich for his medical.
A recall for Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland, along with late negotiations led by Jackson’s agent, Ali Barat, saw the Bayern move go through despite the obstacles.
Jackson, who has scored 10 goals in 29 appearances for the side in all competitions, joined Bayern on loan for the season.
The Senegal forward joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £32 million in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 matches.
Jackson had been an automatic starter for Chelsea under Maresca until his red card at St James’ Park last April – his second dismissal of the season – which left the club without a striker as they were competing for a place in the Champions League.
He was then sent off within four minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute in the 3–1 group-stage defeat by Flamengo at the Club World Cup, which Chelsea eventually won. Strikers Delap and Joao Pedro arrived to replace him during the tournament.
According to the BBC, Jackson ultimately lost the trust of Maresca and some of the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge, prompting him to seek a move.
It was a shift in mood, as Maresca had previously said that Jackson was the ‘perfect number nine’ and that he wanted ‘a copy of Nico’ rather than to replace him.
