Nicolas Jackson has reportedly informed Chelsea F.C. that he will only remain at the club if new manager Xabi Alonso guarantees him a major role in the team next season.

The Senegalese striker is expected to return to Stamford Bridge after spending the 2025/26 campaign on loan at FC Bayern Munich.

Jackson had previously established himself as a regular starter for Chelsea after arriving from Villarreal CF in a £32 million move, scoring 30 goals in 81 appearances across two seasons.

However, Chelsea reshaped their attack last summer with heavy investment in forwards, reportedly spending close to £100 million on Liam Delap and João Pedro, which contributed to Jackson’s temporary exit.

During his spell in Germany, Jackson scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Bayern, largely operating as backup to Harry Kane.

According to reports, the striker is open to staying at Chelsea but wants assurances that he will be considered a first-choice option under Alonso rather than a rotational player.

Opinion: Nicolas Jackson’s Demand Is Understandable — But Risky

From a player’s perspective, Nicolas Jackson’s stance makes sense.

At 25, he is at a stage where regular football matters more than simply being part of a big club squad. After spending a season behind Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, it is understandable that he does not want another campaign playing a secondary role.

The issue, however, is that modern elite clubs rarely guarantee starting positions anymore — especially clubs like Chelsea that constantly compete for depth and internal competition.

What makes this situation interesting is that Jackson has already shown he can contribute in the Premier League. Thirty goals in 81 appearances is not an elite return, but it is far from poor considering Chelsea’s instability during parts of that period.

The arrival of Xabi Alonso also changes the conversation. Alonso is known for tactical flexibility and demanding intelligent movement from attackers, which could actually suit Jackson’s style if used correctly.

Still, Chelsea’s aggressive spending in attack suggests the club wants competition rather than dependency on one striker. That means Jackson may need to fight for his place rather than expect guarantees.

Ultimately, the next few weeks could define whether Jackson becomes a central figure in Chelsea’s rebuild or another talented forward caught in the club’s constant squad reshaping.