It’s a good thing Chelsea failed to bring back Victor Osimhen during this year’s summer transfer window.

Osimhen’s admirers within the club’s fan base may have raised their eyebrows and uttered a few choice words upon reading this statement, but let’s Athletics explain. This is not an insult to the Nigerian striker, but if he had joined Chelsea since Napleshe would probably get in the way now Nicholas Jacksondevelopment.

After 17 goals and six assists in 44 matches in all competitions last season at the age of 22 – his first at the club following a transfer from the Spaniard Villarreal for just over €35m (£29.1m/$36.5m at current exchange rates) – Jackson has earned the right to continue as the club’s first-choice striker. Had Osimhen, a more experienced and proven leader, arrived, with talk of a loan intensifying in the final days of the window before collapsing, it is difficult to see how that would have been the case.

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Osimhen, 26 next month, is not the kind of player you add to a team and then bench. He scored 26 goals in 32 Series A appearances to help Napoli win the 2022-23 Italian title, a feat that has elevated his status in world football, certainly to a position above that of Jackson, who has no major honor to his name and only did his first La Liga start this same season.

Sure, 2023-24 may not have gone as well, with 15 goals in 25 Serie A games, but Osimhen was still highly regarded. Serial French champions Paris Saint-Germain were another club chasing him as they parted ways with Kylian Mbappébefore terminating their interest due to the full cost of the transaction. Finally, a one-season loan to TürkiyeGalatasaray made it official late in the window and it’s a case of so far so good in Istanbul, with eight goals in their last seven appearances.

It seems inevitable that top clubs will compete for his services again in 2025.

But let’s imagine what would have happened if Osimhen had accepted the salary structure available at Stamford Bridge and come to west London. His position in the game – his 2022-23 exploits for Napoli saw him voted African Footballer of the Year – means he would surely have expected to start regularly in the Premier League. And as new coach Enzo Maresca has shown, there is only room for one center forward in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Just ask Christophe Nkunku.

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That’s not to say Chelsea were wrong to try to strengthen from the start or that they didn’t like Jackson. He was awarded a pay rise and a two-year contract extension until 2033 in September, but the club are ambitious and want to start winning trophies again.

The schedule is more intense this season with matches in five domestic and foreign competitions (including the Club World Cup next June and July) and they require strength and depth. Before making a big move in favor of Osimhen, Chelsea turned to other attackers, notably Samu Aghehowa (formerly Omorodion) of Atletico Madrid and his 20-year-old compatriot, Villa AstonIt is John Duran. The former instead joined Porto and has 12 goals in 13 games for them. Duran remained at Villa and has eight appearances in 18.

Jackson gave Leicester centre-back Wout Faes a hard time (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

But as Jackson showed in the 2-1 away win against Leicester Cityhe relishes being the main man at the club, the undisputed leader of the front row. He put Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute, taking his season tally to seven goals (and three assists) in 13 appearances.

It was the manner of his intervention which should nevertheless be so pleasant to watch. One of the criticisms leveled at him since joining Chelsea is that he lacks the physical presence to outpower defenders, as his highly regarded predecessors Didier Drogba and Diego Costa did in their pomp. Instead, it relies on skill and pace.

Yet the way he fought Wout Faesmaybe not the best central defender in the league but someone who has played every minute of the last 11 matches for a Belgium team currently sixth FIFAin the world rankings, the preparation brought back memories of Drogba belittling Philippe Senderos of Arsenal. The film then moves away Caleb Okolifollowed by a finish off the outside of the foot, wasn’t too bad either.

Nicolas Jackson opens the scoring for Chelsea!

This is a game Leicester’s defense won’t want to look back on urgently

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XFCnQ4oEl5

– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 23, 2024

Jackson is not the finished article, and there will be occasions where chances don’t convert. But its potential is vast. When he is compared unfavorably to Drogba by Chelsea fans, it feels like they are measuring him against the Ivorian star when he was at his peak, not the one who needed a few seasons in football Englishman to become one of the best in the Premier League. -the greats of the time. Some might be surprised to read that in Drogba’s first 57 games with Chelsea, he scored 23 goals. Jackson’s total in his first 57 is…24.

After Jackson missed chances during 1-0 FA Cup defeat in semi-final against Manchester City in April it seemed significant that Drogba gave public support to X. He wrote: “Keep your head high and never stop working hard, it will pay off. »

Jackson does this and is rewarded. He also proved he had character. His response to Chelsea’s pursuit of other players in his position should not be underestimated. Among the statistics after Leicester’s victory was one which indicated that only Erling Haaland (31) and Ollie Watkins (25) has more non-penalty goals in the Premier League since the start of last season than his 21.

Senegal teammate and former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly recently claimed that Jackson has what it takes to one day win the Ballon d’Or. More importantly, he gained Maresca’s trust and approval.

“He is doing very well,” Maresca said after the match. “I’ve said it many times, he works hard, with and without the ball. He makes an effort to understand the way we want to play. We are very happy with the way Nico plays with the ball but especially the way he plays without the ball, the way he presses. We are sure he will improve game after game.

You could say missing Osimhen was a blessing in disguise.

(Top photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)