Jackson’s Form Justifies Chelsea’s Confidence in Him

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s coach, wanted to sign a new striker in August, but the impressive start to Nicolas Jackson’s second season in the Premier League suggests that the solution was already at Stamford Bridge.

There was some surprise when Maresca said Chelsea would try to “sign a striker who could help the team and make a difference” during the summer transfer window, even though the team already included notable names such as Christopher Nkunku and João Félix.

Jackson scored 14 goals in 35 league matches last season, but the 23-year-old striker admitted he missed many opportunities during his first year in England.

Jackson told Sky Sports in May: “I think I should have scored more goals given the chances I missed… I hope things improve next year.”

However, the Senegalese striker’s form this season has highlighted his ability as one of Europe’s top scorers, while he tries to justify the £35 million (36.76 million dollars) fee Chelsea paid for him in an unusual 8-year deal.

Jackson’s contract with Chelsea runs until 2033, and the club is looking forward to him staying in West London, just like club legend Didier Drogba, who scored 164 goals and led the team to their first Champions League title.

Though it is still a long way to go for Jackson to match Drogba’s record, the young striker has scored 20 goals in the Premier League in less time than the Ivorian forward and has already surpassed Fernando Torres’ tally at the club (20 goals in the league).

Jackson, along with playmaker Cole Palmer, leads Chelsea’s scoring chart in the league this season with 7 goals. His performances in Chelsea’s difficult away matches have helped the team climb to third place in the standings.

Jackson has scored 5 goals away from home, more than any player in the league so far, and has an average of scoring or assisting in almost every match.

Jackson has been praised not only for his goals but also for his work without the ball and pressing as the first line of defense.

Maresca said after Jackson scored in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Leicester City last Saturday: “For me, he’s been performing very well. Since we started, he’s been working hard with the ball and without it. He’s making an effort to understand how we want to play. Sometimes we use him as a midfielder who drops deeper, and sometimes we use him in attack from the back. We are very happy with the way he plays… and the way he presses.”

Victor Osimhen had long been linked with a move to Chelsea, but the Nigerian forward, who helped Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years, is spending this season on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey, while Jackson is already leaving his mark.

Jackson’s performances have also kept Nkunku, the former Leipzig striker who won the Bundesliga Player of the Year award and was signed by Chelsea for £52 million last year, on the bench.

Nkunku and João Félix have rarely started in the league, often appearing only in the EFL Cup or the Europa Conference League matches.

Maresca added: “We are very happy at this moment. We are confident Jackson will keep improving with every match.”