Paul Merson is ‘shocked’ two Premier League clubs did not make deadline-day moves for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.
Jackson has joined Bayern Munich in a deal that could end up costing the Bundesliga champions more than £70m.
The Senegal international pushed to leave Stamford Bridge after seeing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap arrive at the club earlier in the summer.
Bayern have paid £14m to sign Jackson on loan and agree to make the move permanent next summer for £56m if he makes a minimum number of appearances.
Jackson agreed a five-year contract with Bayern after travelling to Munich over the weekend to seal the move.
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Chelsea considered blocking his exit following Liam Delap’s injury setback but decided on deadline day to sanction the move.
The Blues are set to more than double their money on Jackson, who they signed from Villareal for £32m in 2023.
Merson is ‘amazed’ Newcastle United and Aston Villa did not make bids for Jackson and believes the 24-year-old would have preferred to stay in the Premier League.
Jackson has blown hot and cold at Stamford Bridge but Merson also reckons his departure is bad news for Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer.
‘To be honest I am amazed no Premier League team has come in for Nicolas Jackson,’ Merson said on Sky Sports. ‘Honestly!
‘How Newcastle haven’t gone after him, I do not know. Instead, they’ve gone and brought in [Nick Woltemade].
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen with him. I’ve never seen him play and it’s a big difference playing in the Premier League.
‘Nicolas Jackson is a handful. For me, he made Cole Palmer as good as Palmer made him.
‘Aston Villa don’t look like scoring a goal for toffee – there are deals to be done. I am flabbergasted this lad hasn’t gone anywhere [in the Premier League].
‘He’s a bit rough but I’m shocked he’s not gone somewhere else. He’s got a lovely move to a massive club in Bayern Munich but everyone wants to play in the Premier League.’
Jackson leaves Chelsea having made 81 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have bolstered Enzo Maresca’s attacking options with the loan signing of Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton.
Chelsea have paid £2m to sign the Argentina international and former Leeds United target on loan for the 2025-26 campaign.
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