Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes and Arsenal legend Paul Merson have both slammed Chelsea’s decision to allow Nicolas Jackson to join Bayern Munich, calling it a major blunder that could haunt the club.
Jackson, who moved to Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023 for £32 million, joined Bayern on loan this summer with a mandatory purchase clause linked to appearances. At 24, the Senegalese forward now serves as backup to Harry Kane at the German club.
Before leaving, Jackson netted 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea — a record Scholes believes the club failed to appreciate. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes said Jackson brought more to the team than just goals.
“You need someone with pace up front to make things happen,” Scholes said. “He may not be the most clinical finisher, but his movement gave Chelsea’s creative players room to operate. Without that pace, everything becomes tight and predictable.”
Merson shared the same sentiment, arguing that Jackson’s departure disrupted the team’s rhythm — especially with young striker Liam Delap sidelined by injury.
“I think letting Jackson go was a poor decision,” Merson said. “He complemented Cole Palmer perfectly — they brought the best out of each other. Jackson’s runs created space, and that’s a midfielder’s dream. Now, with Joan Pedro playing deeper, Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are forced to drop back, which kills Chelsea’s attacking flow.”
Both pundits agreed that while Jackson might not be a consistent goal machine, his energy and pace made him invaluable.
The timing of the loan has sparked even more debate. Chelsea suffered a shaky run after his exit — losing their Champions League opener to Bayern, followed by back-to-back league defeats. Though they later scraped past Benfica and clinched a late win over Liverpool, questions remain about whether the club let go of the very player who could have helped turn their form around.
