2 weeks ago
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Package was up to €80m
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“It is one of the smallest squads I played in,” Harry Kane said after the Franz-Beckenbauer Supercup win over Stuttgart (2-1). “There is still some time from now until the end of the transfer window. But that’s down to [director of sport] Max [Eberl] and [sporting director] Christoph [Freund] as well as the coach to make those kinds of decisions.” The Bayern Munich bosses listened and were ready to add Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea on loan with an option to buy. But according to a report by The Athletic the deal is now off after Liam Delap went down with an injury in Chelsea's win over Fulham earlier on Saturday.
With Delap out, Chelsea are down to just one experienced striker in the form of João Pedro. Chelsea sold Christopher Nkunku to Milan earlier today. The German giants were set to pay a €15 million fee to loan Jackson for one season. It would have been the biggest loan deal in Bundesliga history. ust in comparison, Bayern Munich paid €13m to loan Colombian superstar James Rodríguez for two years in 2017, and they received €10m to loan Mathys Tel to Tottenham. It was a compromise to begin with. Chelsea wanted to sell Jackson, and only a high loan fee opened the door for Jackson to travel to Munich in the first place. The loan would have included an option to buy for €65m. But even though Jackson is already in Munich, the deal is now off.
Jackson joined Chelsea in a deal worth €37m from Villarreal two years ago. Since then, the striker has scored 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 games across all competitions. A physical imposing forward, the Senegalese national team striker can play both as a no.9 and on the wing. Bayern Munich have had a difficult transfer window. The Munich club lost out on signing Florian Wirtz (to Liverpool) and Nick Woltemade (to Newcastle). Bayern were also interested in Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, but he has now joined AC Milan instead. Additionally, Kingsley Coman left the club to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, and Leroy Sané opted to leave on a free transfer to Galatasaray. Now Jackson can be added to the list of failed transfers.
Why were Bayern Munich desperate to sign Nicolas Jackson
As a result of failed transfers and player departures, Bayern Munich’s squad has been reduced to 25 players. That squad includes four goalkeepers as well as youth players Lennart Karl (17), Wisdom Mike (16), and Jonah Kusi-Asare (18). Furthermore, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are currently missing with long-term injuries. Despite all that, Freund and Eberl were instructed to only find short-term loan solutions, as the board wants to keep its powder dry for a major transfer offensive next summer.
Finding that short-term solution hasn’t been easy and with Jackson now off the table the search continues. The 24-year-old could have been a perfect signing for Bayern Munich. Capable of playing on the wing, the forward will give head coach Vincent Kompany options on the flank. Most importantly, Jackson can also come in to play either with Kane or give the England captain much-needed time off in what is going to be a World Cup year. So what happens next? Bayern Munich now have just 48 hours to identify and sign another target. It is a difficult, perhaps almost impossible task before the window shuts on Monday.
