Chelsea are unlikely to replace Nicolas Jackson if the 24-year-old striker is moved on this month as expected, with the Blues believing they already have ample in-house cover.
Jackson’s exit is being worked on after Daily Mail Sport revealed last week how the No 9 had told the club he wants to explore leaving. He was left out of Enzo Maresca’s squads for their friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan on Friday and Sunday respectively because of that.
He trained individually at Cobham over that weekend, but one person who has been at the training ground since told us they did not see him working alongside the ‘bomb squad’ that includes Raheem Sterling, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Alfie Gilchrist, David Datro Fofana and others.
Sources in Jackson’s camp have told us there is no concrete update as they are still considering their options, one of which includes Newcastle United, amid their Alexander Isak crisis.
Chelsea insiders have insisted that if Jackson tells them he wants to stay, they would be happy to have him for the upcoming campaign, competing for a place up front with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
But Confidential has also been told that the club are not currently working on signing a replacement in the likely event that Jackson ends up leaving.
Chelsea are unlikely to replace Nicolas Jackson if the forward leaves this month
The Blues believe they are in a strong position with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro and have options who can serve as a false nine
That would leave Maresca with two senior strikers heading into 2025-26 and supporters will recall how that was an issue in 2024-25 during a freak injury crisis when Jackson and Marc Guiu picked up problems.
It was six months ago this week when we asked Maresca who he would use for their impending trip to Brighton. The Blues boss joked he might have to play up front himself as even Shim Mheuka, their 17-year-old academy graduate, was nursing a thigh strain.
In the end, Pedro Neto was used as a false nine in a series of matches as Christopher Nkunku, another attacker likely to leave this month, was not cutting it.
While they may lose Jackson and have loaned Guiu to Sunderland, Chelsea feel they are now in a strong position with Delap and Joao Pedro in position. They also have Neto, Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian, who Maresca believes can be used as false nines if necessary.
JACKSON’S TRUE VALUATION
What is Jackson’s true valuation in today’s market?
To answer that, we consulted the CIES Football Observatory based in Switzerland to fire up their scientific transfer algorithm which is well respected within football.
By their reckoning, Jackson is worth €85million (£73.3m), but they did add his value is dropping , with Chelsea having made it clear they are open to selling this month.
CABALLERO’S NEW COACHING ROLE REVEALED
Confidential has been told that Chelsea assistant Willy Caballero has teamed up with the players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, to become a teacher on one of their new courses.
It is called ‘Approach to Elite Coaching’ and for £2,000 those who sign up to the workshop can learn from Caballero and his fellow tutors on how top coaches develop their philosophies.
Chelsea assistant Willy Caballero has signed up to become a teacher on a new PFA course
A BLAST FROM A BLUE PAST
Speaking of the PFA, they are running their own 10-week pre-season to give players without clubs the chance to find themselves a new home for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
As well as daily training sessions it includes friendly fixtures, so scouts can take a look at the available free agents. The PFA XI played Everton’s Under-21s last week, for example.
With week seven now underway, the PFA have 38 players with them, and that includes one blast from the past in Fabio Borini. Now 34, the Italian started his career with Chelsea before going on to represent Liverpool, Sunderland, Roma, AC Milan and more.
Another former Chelsea player has already used this PFA initiative to get himself a new club and that is Asmir Begovic, the 38-year-old goalkeeper who has signed for Leicester on a one-year deal.
‘MARKET OPPORTUNITY’
I’m tired of the words ‘market opportunity’. They cropped up again when news broke that Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is available for sale this summer.
Confidential reported last week how Chelsea have not reignited talks with AC Milan over Mike Maignan and are happy with their own goalkeepers in Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, while they also have Mike Penders, the 20-year-old who is on loan at their sister club, Strasbourg. Hopes are high when it comes to that Belgian youngster.
After checking on the inevitable rumours linking Chelsea with Donnarumma, we are told their stance is still the same and they have not entered the race for the 26-year-old Italian, nor will they.
Chelsea were linked to PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, but will not make a move for the keeper
ALI B IN DA HOUSE
Agent Ali Barat was a guest at Stamford Bridge last week for their first pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea are still chasing one of his clients in Xavi Simons, but outgoings are the focus currently.
Barat is also the intermediary working on finding Jackson a new club.
Xavi Simons’ agent Ali Barat was a guest of Chelsea at their last pre-season friendly, but he is currently working on outgoings from the club including finding Nicolas Jackson a new home
CHELSEA PITCH OWNERS EMAIL STADIUM UPDATE
An email landed in the inboxes of supporters this week from Chris Isitt, the chair of the Chelsea Pitch Owners board. It mentioned how one of the offshoots from the club being crowned world champions was that it had sparked more conversations surrounding Stamford Bridge.
Isitt issued this update on the stadium: ‘To be clear, there is no proposal from the club to CPO, either for redevelopment or for moving. Nothing much has changed since CFC President/CEO Jason Gannon spoke at our AGM back in January.
‘We understand the club has been active for some time in speaking to relevant external parties that would be involved in either staying or going; local authorities, GLA, TfL, etc. We understand that one of the main concerns at present is inflation in the construction industry and the subsequent spiralling of costs compared to other projects in London of a similar nature in the last few years.
‘The purchase agreement in 2022 set a figure of £1.75billion to go towards the foundation, academy development and stadium redevelopment. Based on current estimates, all of that, and more, would be required just to get the stadium built right.
‘Statements that the stadium scheme put forward by Roman Abramovich could or should be dusted off and resubmitted are not viable. Although planning was granted, it has now expired and a new application would need to be made from scratch. That previous plan, with designs that are now 10 years old, would in any case not tick many boxes on the present owners’ list of must-haves. It was a high spec, expensive project for a stadium only. The current requirement is for a stadium complex with a range of complementary entertainment amenities, hence the need for the Stoll site.’
Isitt reminded us in the email that nothing can or will happen with Stamford Bridge without the involvement of Chelsea Pitch Owners shareholders.
Chelsea Pitch Owners revealed the club’s concerns over inflation in the construction industry in an update about the club’s stadium plans
FOOTBALL CRAZY, CHOCOLATE MAD AND CHILWELL IN THE BARGAIN BIN…
In Chelsea’s official club shop, you can buy a little Cole Palmer figurine, like those Powerpodz we used to snap up when we were kids. You remember the song: ‘Football crazy, chocolate mad…’
They are basically the game’s answer to a Kinder Surprise and on a match day at Stamford Bridge, you can get Palmer for £7, Marc Cucurella for £7, Enzo Fernandez for £7 and so on.
But there is one that has gone on sale and that is Ben Chilwell. He is now available for £2, down from £7. You can guess why. He is not in Chelsea’s plans and hasn’t been for some time, with the club trying to finally get him off their books this summer, once and for all.
Chelsea signed Chilwell for £45m from Leicester in 2020. Confidential asked sources close to the club for their valuation of him. Sadly we were not told one, but much like his figurine, it will be cheaper than any of his previous price tags.