Bayern Munich ‘Unlikely’ to Trigger €65m Clause for Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea Prepare for Possible Return Twist

Chelsea may be heading toward an unexpected transfer setback as the latest reports in Germany suggest Bayern Munich are not planning to sign Nicolas Jackson permanently. According to SportBILD, the current “trend” inside the German club is that the €65 million clause in the striker’s loan deal will not be activated, placing his long-term future back in Chelsea’s hands.

Jackson joined Bayern on loan late in the summer window, with an option that could quickly become an obligation depending on playing time. But the situation is now shifting in a direction Chelsea did not predict.

Jackson Struggling to Secure a Starting Place at Bayern

The 23-year-old arrived at the Allianz Arena hoping to gain more minutes, sharpen his finishing, and step into a bigger attacking role. Instead, he has found himself fighting for space in a squad where Harry Kane remains the undisputed first choice.

Despite showing flashes of quality — scoring three goals and providing one assist — Jackson has played only 420 total minutes across 12 games. That is:

Four Bundesliga starts out of eight matches

Just one start in four Champions League games

Those numbers highlight the challenge: Vincent Kompany sees Jackson as useful, but not essential. And unless he plays a certain number of matches, Bayern are not forced to turn the loan into a €65 million permanent deal.

SportBILD report that, as things stand, Bayern “don’t see the trigger being hit” and are already exploring other striker options.

Bayern Are Looking Elsewhere — And That’s a Problem for Chelsea

The clearest sign Bayern are preparing to move away from Jackson is their interest in FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Djú. Sporting director Christoph Freund is described as a “strong supporter” of Djú and is actively pushing his name forward.

This growing interest has pushed Jackson “down the list” of long-term options.

The logic is simple:

Kane is in top form

Bayern want a younger, cheaper back-up

Jackson isn’t playing enough to activate the clause

The club don’t want another expensive forward warming the bench

Unless something dramatic changes — such as a sudden rise in Jackson’s minutes or a long-term injury to Kane — Chelsea should expect their striker back at Cobham next summer.

What This Means for Chelsea

For Chelsea, this outcome comes with mixed feelings.

On one hand, they could have earned a huge €65 million fee for a player who needed time and consistency. On the other hand, Jackson returning could complicate the club’s plans for their attacking rebuild.

Chelsea are still trying to figure out their ideal front line. With Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, and Mykhailo Mudryk becoming more influential, Jackson’s role will be questioned once again — the same issue he faced before leaving for Germany.

The club’s recruitment team will soon need to decide:

Do they try to loan him out again?

Do they sell him permanently for a lower fee?

Or do they bring him back into Enzo Maresca’s squad?

Chelsea’s long-term plans for Jackson were already unclear — Bayern’s latest stance only adds another layer of uncertainty.

Can Jackson Still Change Bayern’s Mind?

There is still time for a twist.

A strong run of form after the international break, a spike in minutes, or a major contribution in Champions League knockout games could change the trajectory. Bayern will reassess again in the spring.

But as of now, the signals are clear: Bayern are preparing to move on.

And Chelsea appear set for disappointment.