Paul Merson criticises Chelsea over Nicolas Jackson exit and suggests Newcastle should have signed him
Former Arsenal midfielder says Chelsea erred in allowing the Senegal forward to join Bayern Munich on loan and names Eddie Howe’s side as a better fit
Paul Merson has criticised Chelsea’s decision to allow Nicolas Jackson to leave Stamford Bridge on loan to Bayern Munich and suggested Newcastle United would have been a more suitable Premier League destination for the 24-year-old.
Jackson completed a season-long move to the Bundesliga champions on Deadline Day after a transfer saga that included last-minute uncertainty at Chelsea when Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury. The deal, agreed while Jackson was already in Bavaria, is understood to have cost Bayern about £14 million for the season.
The Senegal international’s exit followed Chelsea’s summer additions of João Pedro and Liam Delap, which left Jackson facing limited opportunities under manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea reportedly considered cancelling the loan after Delap’s injury but eventually allowed the transfer to proceed, with Merson saying the club may have also been balancing the books.
"If I were Chelsea, I would have kept him," Merson told Sportskeeda, as reported in the Daily Mail. "I don’t think he’s a bad player. I’m surprised Newcastle didn't sign Jackson though. He fits the bill more than Nick Woltemade in the sense that he can be direct and make good runs like Alexander Isak."
Newcastle instead pursued and completed a move for Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart, the 22-year-old forward who scored 12 Bundesliga goals last season. The Magpies had been linked with Benjamin Šeško earlier in the window but ultimately opted for Woltemade as Eddie Howe’s side continue to reshape their attacking options.
Chelsea travel to Brentford on Saturday in a west London derby without Jackson and with Maresca’s side sitting second in the Premier League after three games, behind only Liverpool. Chelsea beat Fulham and West Ham United in their opening fixtures and are unbeaten, but Merson warned that a trip to Brentford presents a different challenge.
"Brentford will sit back and I don’t think Chelsea will be able to create a lot of chances here," Merson said. "Brentford away is never an easy place to go to and I expect Chelsea to be up against it. I still think they can hold on to a nervy 1-0 lead though."
The Jackson move marks another high-profile temporary departure from the Premier League to a major European club as Chelsea seek to manage a deep squad and financial requirements. Bayern, who reached the latter stages of the Champions League last season, added Jackson to bolster their attacking options while retaining the ability to revisit his future at the end of the loan.
Chelsea’s transfer activity this summer has been notable for a mix of permanent signings and loans as the club pursues both immediate improvement and long-term planning. Jackson’s decision to join Bayern followed his emergence as a forward capable of leading the line with direct play and strong running off the shoulder of defenders — attributes Merson highlighted as valuable in the Premier League.
Jackson’s season at Bayern will be watched closely by fans and pundits alike; his performances in Germany could determine whether Chelsea bring him back into their plans or sanction a permanent move next summer. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s investment in Woltemade adds another dimension to their forward line as they prepare for a domestic campaign that will test Howe’s recruitment choices.