Chelsea decided to sell Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich in the summer, following one of the most complicated sagas of the summer transfer window.
While it looked like a good move following the summer arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, it looks different in hindsight, given the number of injuries that the Blues have suffered since the start of the season.
Additionally, Chelsea haven’t been on top form to start the season, winning just two of six in the Premier League and winless after one European outing.
Some have started to question some recruitment decisions made over the summer, especially the decision to let Jackson go on loan.
While some believe that the Blues are a better team without the Senegalese international, others think that some players are missing his presence more than others.
Former Premier League star Paul Merson believes that two Chelsea players are missing Jackson more than others.
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Paul Merson believes that Cole Palmer and Enzo Maresca are feeling the loss of Jackson
Cole Palmer had developed a lethal partnership with Jackson during the latter’s time at Stamford Bridge.
Though they weren’t the most consistent, the pair could be devastating to opposing defences on their day.
Discussing Chelsea on The Good, The Bad & The Football, Paul Merson claims Palmer is missing the Senegalese striker this season.
He says: “I think Jackson was a bad sell, I really did. I thought Jackson made Palmer and Palmer made Jackson, you know, as a centre forward. Put it this way, as a midfield player, you like to pass the ball, you want pace up front.
“It’s a dream, and he would always go and it would open the game up and Palmer would get on the ball, he’d have space. Now all of a sudden he’s gone.”
He continues: “All of a sudden these flair players like your Fernandez’s and your Palmer’s don’t get time on the ball. Yeah.
“And then all of a sudden what you do when you don’t get time on the ball, I’m just going to go further and further and further back and get the ball off the centre-half and you’re not going to hurt anybody back there. I think that’s a big problem.”
For what it's worth, Chelsea do seem to be missing what Jackson brought to the table during his time at the club.
The Senegal striker has not had the best start to the season in Munich, and Chelsea have the option of recalling him from his loan at the end of the season, if they would like to rekindle the partnership between Palmer, Fernandez and Jackson.
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