Paul Merson has criticised Chelsea’s decision to let Nicolas Jackson leave and singled out one Premier League club who he believes should have signed the forward.
The Senegal international sealed his move to Bayern Munich on Deadline Day following a transfer saga fraught with twists and turns.
After the Blues added to their squad with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, Jackson accepted he may find minutes hard to come by at Stamford Bridge, leaving him open to a move away from the club.
He agreed a deal to sign for the Bundesliga champions on loan but at the last minute, with Jackson already in Bavaria, Chelsea considered pulling the plug as Delap picked up a hamstring injury.
Following further negotiations, a deal sealing the 24-year-old’s exit was eventually agreed, with Bayern forking out around £14million to bring him to the Allianz Arena for the season.
But Merson, a Chelsea fan, believes Enzo Maresca should have kept Jackson in west London.
Nicolas Jackson sealed a season-long loan to Bayern Munich on Deadline Day
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Paul Merson however believes Chelsea should have kept the Senegalese forward at Stamford Bridge
‘The Nicolas Jackson situation at Chelsea was very interesting,’ the former Arsenal midfielder told Sportskeeda.
‘He was on his way to Bayern Munich and all of a sudden, Liam Delap gets injured. They initially wanted to cancel Jackson’s loan but later decided to let him join Bayern, possibly with one eye on balancing the books as well.
‘If I were Chelsea, I would have kept him. I don’t think he’s a bad player. I’m surprised Newcastle didn’t sign Jackson though.
‘He fits the bill more than Nick Woltemade in the sense that he can be direct and make good runs like Alexander Isak.’
Indeed, as Jackson left the Premier League for the Bundesliga, Woltemade went the other way as he completed a move to Newcastle United from Stuttgart.
The Magpies had been linked with a move for Jackson after missing out on Benjamin Sesko but ultimately decided to target the young German.
He moves to Tyneside having scored 12 goals for Stuttgart in the German top-flight last season and could make his debut as Eddie Howe’s side host Wolves on Saturday.
Meanwhile, of course without Jackson, Chelsea travel to Brentford to face Keith Andrews’ side in a west London derby.
‘He’s not a bad player,’ Merson said of the 24-year-old striker
The pundit pinpointed Newcastle as a side who should have looked at Jackson. Eddie Howe however opted for a move for Nick Woltemade
Enzo Maresca’s side are back in action on Saturday with a short trip across west London to face Brentford
Maresca’s team head into the game on the back of two victories against Fulham and West Ham United, but Merson believes they may struggle to keep up their good form on Saturday night.
He said: ‘Chelsea weren’t great against Fulham, but they still won so it’s still a positive result.
‘They will have to be patient away from home against Brentford this weekend. But the longer this game goes on without a goal, I would be worried.
‘Brentford will sit back and I don’t think Chelsea will be able to create a lot of chances here.
‘Brentford away is never an easy place to go to and I expect Chelsea to be up against it. I still think they can hold on to a nervy 1-0 lead though.’
Chelsea sit second in the Premier League table after their opening three games, behind only Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
