Chelsea have had a difficult season, and the summer is set to bring a new chapter at Stamford Bridge, with hope that they can finally get it right.
Two managers have been sacked in the last four months in West London, with both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior sent packing this season, and the inconsistencies in the dressing room have spilled onto the pitch.
The Blues were comfortably on course to secure a Champions League qualification spot this season, but have drastically dropped off in the last month, failing to score a single league goal throughout April.
Though Chelsea will need to rely on results around them to decide their league position, they do have another path to Europe through the FA Cup this season.
If Calum McFarlane can lead the side to victory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the final next month, they will gain Europa League qualification, as well as another major trophy.
While BlueCo will be keen to focus on finding the right manager to replace Rosenior this summer, recruitment and important decision-making on the squad will be absolutely vital in improving their chances of progression.
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Nicolas Jackson will return to Chelsea this summer following a season-long loan with Bayern Munich.
Plettenberg has revealed that several clubs are “monitoring” the striker’s situation ahead of the transfer window:
“Juventus are monitoring Nicolas #Jackson and can imagine a loan move. AC Milan are monitoring the situation as well.”
“Jackson will return to Chelsea in the summer for now, as FC Bayern will not trigger the option to buy and a second loan is currently not planned. #CFC”
Should Chelsea keep Nicolas Jackson?
There is no doubt that Chelsea are struggling all over the pitch, including in front of goal, so Jackson’s return presents a conundrum.
Across more than 30 appearances for Bayern this season, the 24-year-old – once hailed as “unbelievable” by TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole – has scored 10 goals and registered four assists.
It is a modest but respectable return that could help elevate Chelsea from scraping into Europe to comfortably qualifying for the Champions League.
Any decision on Jackson’s future will likely depend on the futures of the other options in Chelsea’s varied attacking line, as well as whether the new manager is willing to give him the chance to prove himself next season.
While it is unclear what path Chelsea will take when it comes to profiling the new manager and identifying transfer targets, given the disappointment from recent signings such as Liam Delap, they need to get this next decision right quickly, as fans are growing increasingly frustrated.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether the Blues keep Jackson or gamble on selling him to fund another new striker.
Either way, the club will be under huge pressure to make positive progress rather than repeat past mistakes.
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