Nicolas Jackson’s Bundesliga adventure may be short-lived, with Bayern Munich making it crystal clear that a permanent move is off the table. The Chelsea forward, who joined the German champions on loan on deadline day, looks destined to head back to Stamford Bridge once the season wraps up.
The Senegalese striker’s move almost collapsed before it began, after Liam Delap’s injury against Fulham left Chelsea scrambling for cover. But instead of pulling the plug on Jackson’s deal, the Blues recalled youngster Marc Guiu from Sunderland and gave the green light for the switch. Jackson joined Bayern on loan for £13m and the German giants will be obligated to sign him permanently for £56.2m next summer if he makes a set number of appearances.
Now, though, Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness has laid bare the reality of the agreement — and it doesn’t sound promising for Jackson. Speaking to Sport1 Dopa, Hoeness revealed that the only way the loan could turn permanent is if Jackson starts 40 matches this season.
“The player and his agent contribute for €3m (£2.6m), so we pay €13.5m (£11.71m) loan fee. There will definitely not be a permanent contract. That only happens if he starts 40 games — it will never happen,” Hoeness admitted.
That clause is already looking impossible. Bayern have just 32 league games left in the Bundesliga, and with Harry Kane firing on all cylinders, Vincent Kompany has little incentive to bench his star man. The England captain has been a goal machine since arriving in Germany, racking up a jaw-dropping 91 goals in 100 appearances. He’s already added three more to his tally in this season’s opening rounds.
Jackson, meanwhile, had a more modest return in West London, scoring 30 goals in 81 games for Chelsea. Unless something drastic changes in Munich, this loan looks set to be nothing more than a brief detour before the 24-year-old finds himself back in London.
