What Nicolas Jackson and Chelsea did during transfer saga speaks volumes for £69m deal

If only things had happened a little bit quicker forNicolas Jackson. Should a deal with Bayern Munich have been agreed earlier on Friday then he might have flown to Germany sooner, completed a medical, and signed a contract.

After all, this is about a matter of hours. It was less than 90 minutes after full-time at Stamford Bridge on Saturday that it emerged Chelsea had told Bayern of their intentions to block this loan deal from happening.

Prior to the game, and Liam Delap's hamstring injury which promises to keep him out for at least six weeks (seven games) but possibly closer to eight or more weeks (nine games), Chelsea had been happy to celebrate a substantial £12million loan fee and an option to buy him for £56million next summer. The guaranteed payment from Bayern represented close to half of what Chelsea had spent on Jackson in 2023.

The option to buy guarded against Jackson having the sort of season that is very possible. As a relentless runner, Jackson would be licking his lips at the sort of space often afforded to players in Bundesliga football. Chelsea had a temporary solution with all cards on the table heading in next year.

What followed can only be described as a farce. What will happen remains to be seen. The situation unravelled quickly and did so, once again, in public.

It quickly became apparent that Jackson was furious at the demand to turn around and head back to London immediately. No medical, no contract, no loan.

The reaction soon became vitriolic. Was Jackson right to snub his current team? Were Chelsea in the wrong to mess him about like this? How does it all get resolved?

Given Chelsea welcomed offers for Jackson throughout July and August, making it clear that they would rather cash in on him than rescue the promise of his first 18 months at Stamford Bridge, the response is entirely understandable.

Jackson has plenty of reason to feel let down. He was on the verge of a major opportunity in his career and is seeking to write a new chapter after being painted as the outcast who isn't good enough.

It isn't his fault that Chelsea banked on Delap and Joao Pedro (one-and-a-half natural strikers) to keep them going for four competitions. It also isn't his fault that Delap pulled up chasing the sort of ball that he also loves to go after.

Then again, Chelsea hold the power here. Jackson is their player, contracted until 2033, and the loan had not been confirmed. It is within their right to recall someone from a loan even when it has gone through, so backing out this late is perfectly legal. It is simply not moral.

The club have to worry about themselves, though, and Jackson is in the same position. This is where the standoff starts, and probably where it ends.

Chelsea do not want to become reliant on an unhappy player and if Jackson cannot get his head in the right place, may not be the sort of figure that Enzo Maresca wants around anyway. Jackson's camp are committed to finding a solution to this remarkable scenario.

With Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak fresh in the minds of all, neither party will be keen to have such an unpleasant ending. This does not have to descend into social media barbs, unwanted exile, and extended drama.

There will be meetings between all sides to see if a way forward can be found. Chelsea are thought to be exploring their options away from Jackson whilst Bayern are also reportedly looking at others in the loan market.

If the line in the sand is drawn that this is now a permanent transfer or nothing, something must give. Chelsea would be asking Bayern to shell out over four times more than they had initially be prepared to spend on Jackson this window.

The play from Jackson's representatives is clear. Advisor (or consultant, just not his agent, which is Ali Barat) Diomansy Kamara wrote on Instagram [translated] "plane doesn't walk backwards....Munich [red heart emoji]", showing where he is at with it all.

Jackson himself is understood to be angry and it isn't going to be as simple as getting him on a jet back to Cobham for a handshake. That may well be what comes of a whirlwind day but the process to get to this point should not be forgotten.

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Nobody is massively innocent here. Bayern probably are, but they are not the issue. Jackson has had a tough 2025, going through a dry spell on the field and then ended the season with two red cards in the space of four appearances in costly matches. Any confidence in him from the fanbase had diminished and his attitude was already being questioned.

Whether this played into Chelsea's thinking around moving on from Jackson is not clear. They had no doubt in turning back to him once danger reared its head, and it's not the first time they have done this either.

In January they asked for Trevoh Chalobah to cut his time at Crystal Palace short after being left without adequate numbers in defence. Although Chalobah did at least get five months rather than five minutes to enjoy himself at another club, there is a comparison to be had here.

Chelsea left themselves exposed to the risk of injury, transforming the squad balance. Whilst they power on towards Fermin Lopez and Facundo Buonanotte, Conrad Harder is the striker being lined up to come in for Jackson.

From everyone being content with their lot to a lot of chaos. Chelsea and Jackson are going about this the way his time in England would have it. Unpredictable, unorganised, and unapologetic.