Enzo Maresca has clear Nicolas Jackson transfer solution to save Chelsea millions

Nicolas Jackson's situation at Chelsea is turning into a little bit of a transfer saga. Both parties would have wanted the future of the 24-year-old striker to have been sorted out by now, but we are into the final five days of the summer transfer window, and it remains up in the air.

One thing is clear: Jackson wants to leave the Blues before Monday's deadline. The Senegalese striker informed Chelsea earlier this month that he wishes to explore his options, with the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap shunting him down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea have been clear in their stance over Jackson all summer-long; they are in no rush to sell the striker but if an offer comes in that is too good to refuse, they will not stand in his way given the reinforcements they have made in the transfer market. Maresca, speaking last week ahead of the victory over West Ham United, confirmed Jackson would once again not be part of the matchday squad and spoke in detail about the wantaway forward's future at Stamford Bridge.

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Maresca said: "He is available but he's not going to be part of the squad because, as we already said, we have two strikers, we have two players in that position and also we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes.

"We'll see [if Jackson and Christopher Nkunku will be reintegrated into the squad if they stay]. We'll see if they are going to be here. They are going to be with us, and in case they are not here, that means that they found a solution. And at the end I think it's always better if they can find a solution because I think they are going to be more happy and the club the same."

"We brought two strikers [in]," the head coach continued. "The player is open to leave. In case there are any good solutions he's going to leave. It is very easy - it is not complicated.

"I said already that Nico is a very good player. He can be even better. In this moment he's here with us and we will see what happens."

Jackson has big interest from Bayern Munich, who appear to be the front-runners at the moment; however, sources close to the Chelsea striker have told football.london that Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Napoli cannot be ruled out of the race just yet. If the striker, who has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the Blues in all competitions since signing in the summer of 2023, does leave then Maresca only has two senior No.9s to choose from in Delap and Joao Pedro.

Chelsea are not expected - at this stage, as we know things can change very quickly in football, especially in the transfer market - to recruit another striker if Jackson does indeed leave. Perhaps Maresca will turn to the academy and more specifically, the ever-improving Shim Mheuka.

The 17-year-old striker has started the season in dazzling form for the Under-21s side. In just three appearances in all competitions, Mheuka has already scored five goals - with his most recent coming on Tuesday evening in the EFL Trophy defeat to Shrewsbury Town. The ball was whipped in dangerously from the left-hand side and like all good strikers do, Mheuka found himself in the six-yard box for one of the easiest goals he will score this season.

Even more impressively, Mheuka bagged a superb hat-trick in the Under-21s' 3-1 victory over Manchester City at Kingsmeadow just over a week ago. The teenage sensation, who was signed from Brighton's academy in 2024, opened the scoring with a superb header from around the penalty spot that left the goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever.

In the second-half, Mheuka scored another header - perhaps even more impressive than the first one. This one was thunderous and into the bottom corner to double the Blues' lead. To complete a fine compilation of goals, Mheuka chased a long ball, barged the City defender to the ground, before staying composed in front of goal and sneaking the ball into the bottom corner.

There is no doubting Mheuka's talent, and his all-round game is improving all the time - with those involved in the senior side well aware of his potential. He could be the perfect third option Maresca needs should Jackson - as expected now - leave the club before next week's deadline.