Chelsea Eager to Offload Nkunku and Jackson as Deadline Looms

Chelsea are ramping up their efforts in the transfer market, with the club keen to move key attacking players before the September 1 deadline. Striker Nicolas Jackson and midfielder Christopher Nkunku have emerged as prime candidates for departure as the Blues look to reshape their squad.

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Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the situation, noting that Jackson “is available but he is not going to be part of [the] squad” in the immediate future. On the prospect of a transfer, he added, “You know from last season I prefer to be focused on training sessions. I don’t know,” highlighting the uncertainty that still surrounds the 22-year-old striker.

Nkunku’s position appears similarly unsettled. Maresca stated, “Christopher is with us, like Nico, but it’s the same answer as Nico. The other two players [Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson] are training apart.” With less than two weeks remaining in the transfer window, Chelsea face a complex balancing act between outgoing sales and incoming targets.

The departures are part of a wider strategy that includes potential deals for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig’s versatile Xavi Simons.

Chelsea hope that the exits of Jackson and Nkunku, along with reduced game time for academy graduate Tyrique George, will free up space for these acquisitions.

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A number of other players, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, and Alfie Gilchrist, are also reportedly available for transfer, creating a busy market period at Stamford Bridge.

While the attacking department undergoes scrutiny, Chelsea have received some stability in defence. Centre-backs Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana are back in training, though midfielder Romeo Lavia and centre-back Benoit Badiashile remain sidelined.

On Fofana, Maresca reassured fans, stating: “He is joining all the sessions and is very happy… We are happy and he is happy,” despite the player removing all Chelsea mentions from his social media accounts.

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As the deadline approaches, Chelsea’s priority is clear: offload Nkunku and Jackson to facilitate reinforcements, while navigating a series of negotiations that could reshape the squad entirely. With two weeks left, the transfer saga promises to dominate the club’s focus in the run-up to the new season.