Chelsea’s hunt for a striker has been going on for nearly 12 months now, with boss Enzo Maresca targeting a new centre-forward ever since his appointment during the summer.
Countless players have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the past few months, with Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney just two of the names thrown into the mix.
However, the Italian is yet to land the talisman he craves in West London, potentially providing a huge boost in their chances of returning to Premier League glory in the coming years.
The summer will provide a fresh opportunity to delve back into the transfer market to try and finally end their pursuit, with owner Todd Boehly needing to get his chequebook out once again.
It’s crucial that the Blues land a player who would provide an upgrade on the options currently at Maresca’s disposal, dropping one player down the pecking order as a result.
Nicolas Jackson’s stats for Chelsea in 2024/25
Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson joined Chelsea back in the summer of 2023, looking to cement his place as a regular starter for the Blues at the top end of the pitch.
Fast-forward 18 months, the 23-year-old has certainly done just that, scoring 26 times before his injury lay-off and becoming Maresca’s number one striking option.
However, there’s still been a few question marks around his goal-scoring ability due to his wasteful nature in the final third, as seen by his tally of 15 big chances missed with only two players managing more in the league this campaign.
Jackson has also been dispossessed 1.7 times per 90 to date, often struggling to make the ball stick, with the club desperately needing a focal point to take them to the next level.
Undoubtedly, a proven goal scorer in today’s market is likely to cost a fortune, but the club have already made a huge mistake in allowing one talent to leave for a bargain fee.
The talisman who’s scored 89 goals since leaving Chelsea
Chelsea’s academy setup has provided numerous stars over the years, handing numerous managers the opportunity to be a success during their spell in charge at the Bridge.
However, players are also offloaded to balance the books, with striker Dominic Solanke one of those who falls into such a category – departing in a £3m deal to join Liverpool in 2017.
The Englishman was once seen as a player with huge potential in West London, scoring countless times at various youth levels, before notching seven goals during his first professional loan at Vitesse.
His lack of first-team action with his boyhood side would lead to his departure, having the opportunity to impress under Jürgen Klopp at Anfield, scoring just once before a permanent move to Bournemouth a year later.
The move to the South Coast would kickstart his career into life, registering 77 goals for the Cherries during his six years at the Vitality, which saw him notch 19 goals in his final season at the club during 2024/25.
Such form led to a club-record £65m move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer, offering a replacement for Harry Kane, and wasting no time in impressing – as seen by his tally of 11 goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites, taking his tally to 89 goals since leaving the Blues.
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How Solanke compares to Jackson in 2024/25 so far |
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|---|---|---|
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Statistics (per 90) |
Solanke |
Jackson |
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Games played |
29 |
24 |
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Goals scored |
11 |
9 |
|
Progressive passes |
2.1 |
1.4 |
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Take-on success |
35% |
34% |
|
Carries into final third |
1.2 |
1.1 |
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Aerials won |
1.9 |
0.7 |
|
Aerial success rate |
43% |
33% |
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Stats via FBref |
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The aforementioned figure is also higher than that of current first-team star Jackson, outscoring the Senegalese international but also outperforming him when delving into their respective stats in 2024/25.
Given his rise to stardom, coupled with his ability to find the back of the net at the top level, it’s safe to say the Blues made a huge mistake in allowing him to depart the club – with their loss now Spurs’ gain in their own hunt for European success.
Jackson has been a solid option in recent times, but if the Blues are to progress to the next level under Maresca, it’s pivotal that a new striker is signed this summer – missing a trick by allowing Solanke to leave with the 27-year-old possessing all the tools to be their leading talisman going forward.
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Todd Boehly has even wanted to bring this top talent back to Stamford Bridge.
