Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has fared better in his second season at the club, going from a lost soul in his first Premier League season to a man who is legitimately one of the better No. 9’s in the Premiership.
Jackson, thus far, has scored 6 goals with 3 assists in 10 Premier League appearances, putting him on pace for well over 30 total goal contributions over the course of the 2024/25 season.
Since Christopher Nkunku profiles better as a second striker or attacking midfielder, Jackson is the only true No. 9 at Stamford Bridge, and while he has been performing well for a resurgent Chelsea side who are definitely in the mix for Champions League football again, many supporters would still like to see Todd Boehly bring in another striker.
As Viktor Gyokeres gains more momentum with each passing goal, including three against defending Premier League champions Manchester City on a Champions League night, the Chelsea links grow.
But perhaps the most compelling reason for Chelsea to sign another striker isn’t to directly replace Jackson, necessarily, but rather to provide him with more competition – and serious competition, at that.
This idea comes from former Chelsea defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel on his acclaimed “The Obi One Podcast”:
“Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres all came in to keep Didier Drogba on his toes, he knew that. That’s what made him the player he was and that’s what I think Nicolas Jackson needs. We need another top striker to keep the competition healthy.”
I haven’t heard this argument before, but it’s a brilliant one from a brilliant player and analyst. Obi Mikel brings up the fact that, in the past, everyone knew Didier Drogba was the guy at Chelsea and that his spot was undisputed.
But Chelsea still went out and signed two of the best strikers on the planet to both play alongside Drogba and to get even more out of the world-class big man, because the competition pushed Drogba to play even better.
Jackson is no Drogba, and signing a striker on the level of Anelka or Torres – or Gyokeres, for that matter – could eventually lead to him being replaced. But then so be it, Chelsea would look at it as money well-spent.
And even if that new striker isn’t better than Jackson, then that must mean Jackson stepped up his game further, so if that 60 million euros gets Jackson to be the best striker in the league, let’s say hypothetically, then who would complain about that?
I’m not saying it’s THE best reason for why Chelsea should sign a new striker, but Obi Mikel’s different perspective is well worth considering and makes me lean even more towards the Blues taking the plunge on another 9 in summer 2025.
