With Armando Broja gone on loan to Fulham and Christopher Nkunku’s injury inconsistency, Nicolas Jackson has found himself as the only available striking option for Mauricio Pochettino after the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Senegalese attacker’s performances will determine whether Chelsea will stick with him or they will dip into the market for a new striker next season.
Nicolas Jackson’s Performance
Jackson’s performances have been average. He is always working hard on the front line. He offers a pressing threat to the team, and his work rate is important in maintaining Chelsea’s balance.
His pace allows him to work the channels and run into half-spaces, which allows him to link up well with other attackers like Cole Palmer, Mudryk, Sterling, or Madueke.
However, Jackson’s undoing has been due to his lack of cutting-edge skills in front of the goal. He has 13 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances for Chelsea this season, underperforming top scorer Cole Palmer by 10 goals.
Competition for the Striker Position
Competition for the Striker Position
Nicolas Jackson has made 36 appearances for Chelsea this season. This makes him one of the most picked players by Mauricio Pochettino this season, especially given his Africa Cup of Nations-enforced absence.
The injuries to Nkunku and Broja’s exit in January mean that Jackson does not have any competition for the striker position at Chelsea.
Chelsea might look to address the lack of depth in this position heading into next season.
When Nkunku is fit, and Broja returns from his loan from Fulham, they will likely offer Jackson direct competition for the starting berth.
Manager’s Perspective
Mauricio Pochettino prefers a front-foot and high-pressing style of play. In this regard, Jackson is a perfect striker for the system due to his work rate and connections with other attacking players.
Jackson’s pace and ease in moving with the ball at feet, running at defenders, and stretching defenders out of shape add to his strengths for Pochettino’s side.
However, Chelsea will need a clinical striker if they are to challenge at the top end of the Premier League again.
Pochettino has said that Jackson is young and will develop into a potentially world-class striker. The manager has a track record of developing players like he did with Dele Alli and Harry Kane at Tottenham.
Chelsea might be tempted to keep Jackson on the development course next season if the manager goes to bat for the Senegalese.
Chelsea’s Ambitions
After spending a billion pounds on young and promising talents in world football, Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake have shown their ambition to challenge at the top end in the Premier League and Europe.
Their preference for young players favors Jackson, who will be acclimatized to the Premier League next season and will likely improve overall under Pochettino.
However, their ambition might also force them into the market for a new striker to either play alongside, substitute, or even replace Jackson altogether.
Pochettino has spoken about the need of adding experience to the Chelsea young squad for next season. The striking position, which has been a problem position for Chelsea for a while, might be the priority area to address.
Conclusion
With this season ruled as a free hit season, the Chelsea co-owners will not be as accommodating next season.
Pochettino and the Chelsea youngsters will be under pressure to improve markedly in their performances, and their position in the league, with a Champions League, return the least expected for a club of Chelsea’s calibre.
A potent striker will be a priority for Chelsea going into next season. Jackson has shown flashes of talent and attributes that he will turn into a top striker. He will have to accelerate his development to lead Chelsea into the new era.
At the very least, Chelsea will need another striker to add depth to the position. With the competition arriving, Jackson will need to improve his performances, specifically his goal contributions, to remain the undisputed number 9 Chelsea player in the next season.
