“It’s Him or Me”: Nicolas Jackson Drops Return Bombshell as Chelsea Dressing Room Feud Ignites
LONDON — Just as Chelsea fans were preparing for the summer return of Nicolas Jackson, the Senegalese international has thrown the club’s plans into total disarray. Currently on loan at Bayern Munich, Jackson has issued a staggering ultimatum to the Chelsea board: he will not step foot back in the Cobham training ground unless one specific, unnamed teammate is removed from the squad.
The 24-year-old forward, who moved to the Allianz Arena on a season-long loan in September 2025, broke his silence this week with a series of explosive comments regarding his future under new Blues boss Liam Rosenior.
The “Finishing” Feud: A Season of Secret Spite
According to Jackson, the rift dates back to the closing months of the 2024/25 campaign. While Jackson was frequently criticized by the media for his conversion rate, it appears the sharpest barbs came from within his own dressing room.
> “I’m happy to come back to the club after my loan and prove my worth,” Jackson reportedly told close associates, in quotes that have since reached the Chelsea hierarchy. “But there is one player in that dressing room I simply cannot work with anymore. After what was said behind closed doors last season about my finishing, it’s him or me. If a rival club makes an offer, I’ll be gone tomorrow.”
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While Jackson has refrained from naming the individual, speculation is already reaching a fever pitch. Sources suggest the comments may be directed at one of Chelsea’s senior leadership figures or a fellow forward whose arrival last summer—alongside the likes of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap—saw Jackson pushed toward the exit door.
The Bayern Context: A Tough Road Back
Jackson’s outburst comes at a vulnerable time for the striker. His tenure in Germany has been far from the fairytale he envisioned:
* Limited Minutes: Blocked by the indomitable form of Harry Kane, Jackson has managed only 7 starts and 22 total appearances.
* The Clause: Bayern Munich had a £56.2m obligation-to-buy clause, but it required Jackson to start 40 games—a milestone he can no longer mathematically reach.
* Market Value: With only five goals this season, reports from OneFootball suggest Chelsea are acutely aware that his market value has dipped since his £30m+ arrival from Villarreal.
Chelsea’s Striker Logjam
| Player | Status | Role under Rosenior |
|—|—|—|
| Joao Pedro | Mainstay | Preferred starting #9 |
| Liam Delap | Rising Star | Primary rotation / Target man |
| Emmanuel Emegha | Incoming | Joining from Strasbourg this summer |
| Nicolas Jackson | Loanee | Future in jeopardy |
What Happens Next?
Chelsea sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are reportedly “in a state of shock” over the timing of the comments. With the club already facing scrutiny over Financial Fair Play (FFP) and a recent UEFA fine, they can ill afford a high-value asset devaluing himself through a public feud.
If a resolution isn’t reached, Jackson’s representatives have already been granted permission to speak with intermediaries. Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle are all rumored to be monitoring the situation, though whether they would meet Chelsea’s likely £40m asking price remains the “if” that could define the summer window.
For now, the ball is in Chelsea’s court: do they purge the “toxic” influence Jackson refers to, or do they cash in on a player who seems to have already mentally checked out of Stamford Bridge?
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