Chelsea sold dream Jackson replacement who’s scored 98 goals since leaving

Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League, having scored 47 goals in 25 games, making them the fifth highest in the division this season, averaging 58.6% possession, which is the second-highest in the league and taking 16 shots per game, ranking fourth in this metric in the division.

Enzo Maresca’s side have generated the second-highest xG in the Premier League this season, with 51.79 xG generated in their 25 league games, only Liverpool having more with 63.21 xG. However, whilst their xG generation is high, the Blues conversion rate is one of the lowest in the league.

A big part of that is Nicolas Jackson’s recent injury, along with the lack of clinical finishing at the top end of the pitch. Maresca’s side have often fashioned high xG chances this season, squandering them and therefore negatively affecting their chances of turning performances into points.

Nicolas Jackson’s injury woes

Chelsea signed Jackson in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, with the Senegal striker joining the Blues for a fee of around £32m.

Since his arrival, the 23-year-old has made 68 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals, providing 11 assists and totaling 5,312 minutes played.

Jackson has had a patchy season under Maresca, starting in red-hot form, netting eight times in his first 13 Premier League games this season, before going on a poor run of form, only scoring once in his last ten league games.

With Jackson now expected to be out until around April, and Marc Guiu also out injured, Chelsea are without a natural number nine – something the squad is clearly crying out for, and perhaps something that should have been thought about when making sales.

Chelsea already sold a potential Jackson replacement

After spending some time on loan before his permanent sale, Chelsea agreed the sale of Álvaro Morata in 2019 to Atlético Madrid, with the Spanish club paying £58.3m for the striker.

Since leaving the Blues, initially on loan in 2019, Morata has scored 98 goals for a multitude of clubs, including Atlético Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Galatasaray.

When comparing the two strikers’ underlying metrics this season, you can see how Morata would have offered something slightly different, offering some extra aerial threat to the side and overachieving his xG performance, compared to Jackson who is underperforming his xG.

The age dynamic between the two wouldn’t have been an issue either, as the 32-year-old Morata would have offered experience to the Chelsea side, which is lacking in this department, making for a healthy and competitive dynamic between the two.

Whilst it is easy to judge with hindsight, Chelsea could have used a more experienced striker who is willing to rotate with Jackson, which could have added a new dynamic to the team in certain games, and helped to cover for injuries such as the recent ones to Jackson and Guiu.

As it is, Maresca may be forced to utilise Christopher Nkunku has a makeshift number nine, or instead look to the academy…

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