Chelsea are stalling, their forwards are misfiring, and the solutions in the squad suddenly look far thinner than they did over the summer. With Nicolas Jackson struggling for minutes at Bayern Munich, the question naturally resurfaces: should Chelsea bring him back?

Chelsea clearly believed they had upgraded on Jackson when they sanctioned his loan to Bayern—despite trying to reverse the move at the last minute following Liam Delap’s injury. At the time, it seemed a reasonable judgment.

João Pedro looked like a world-beater during the Club World Cup, while Delap’s early promise suggested he could be the missing piece in Chelsea’s possession play. Meanwhile, Marc Guiu has shown flashes of talent, but he is not yet ready to lead the line for a team chasing Champions League qualification.

Now, Pedro is being forced to operate out of position due to Delap’s ongoing fitness issues, Guiu remains a long-term project, and Chelsea’s attack has gone blunt. With Jackson barely featuring in Germany, the option of recalling him feels increasingly attractive.

How Nicolas Jackson Compares to João Pedro and Liam Delap

Jackson is unlikely to develop into a 20–25 goal Premier League striker, but that doesn’t diminish the valuable attributes he brings. In many ways, he is a blend of Delap and Pedro.

Like Delap, Jackson excels when attacking channels. His pace and well-timed runs are effective against high defensive lines, helping him carve out quality chances.

The problem comes after he gets into those positions. Jackson scored 10 league goals last season but underperformed his xG by 2.34. Nine goals from 68 shots inside the box highlights his inconsistency in front of goal.

Delap, in theory, profiles similarly—but with better finishing. His numbers at Ipswich last season underline this: 11 goals from 48 shots in a side that created far fewer opportunities. However, Delap struggles when asked to play with his back to goal against low blocks.

That’s where Pedro shines. Combative and creative, he’s more of a nine-and-a-half than a traditional centre-forward. Forced to play as a lone striker for much of his Chelsea career, Pedro has still created the most big chances at the club this season (five), boasts a 79.8% pass accuracy, and has won possession in the final third 10 times.

Jackson’s Premier League numbers from last season paint a similar profile: 28 chances created, a 76.7% pass accuracy, and 20 high turnovers.

In short, pairing Pedro just behind Jackson might have been an ideal setup—one Chelsea no longer have access to.

Why Isn’t It Working Out at Bayern?

Minutes have been hard to come by for Jackson under Vincent Kompany. He has played just 391 Bundesliga minutes, starting five matches but still scoring three goals—a solid return for a newcomer to the league.

The problem is that his competition is Harry Kane, who has scored an absurd 31 goals before Christmas. It’s almost impossible to displace him.

Complicating matters further was the now-irrelevant €65 million obligation to buy, which would only have triggered if Jackson started 40 matches. With fewer than 40 games left this season, that clause can no longer activate, removing what little incentive Bayern had to force minutes his way.

Tactically, Jackson’s role in Munich mirrors what he did at Chelsea. Kompany clearly understands his strengths and weaknesses—Jackson simply can’t get enough game time to make a serious impression.

Verdict

If the recall clause allows it, bringing Jackson back in January would be a smart, pragmatic move for Chelsea. He offers Premier League experience, complements João Pedro’s strengths, and fits Chelsea’s current style better than the available alternatives.

It wouldn’t solve Chelsea’s long-term striker problem—they still need a top-tier No. 9 to compete for major trophies—but given their present situation, letting Jackson go now looks like a mistake. A recall may not be ideal, but it might be exactly what Chelsea need.