Chelsea’s first team star could be replaced this summer after disappointing season | OneFootball

It’s the 15th day in May – time to check out how our number 15 is getting on this month.

It’s appropriate timing too – Nicolas Jackson has been in the headlines throughout his time at Chelsea, but perhaps never as much as he has in the last 7 days. A red card against Newcastle on Sunday not only killed our chances of coming back in that game, but also gave him a suspension which means his season (at least in the league) is over.

Jackson’s disappointing season in review

Jackson endured a difficult afternoon at Selhurst Park. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

So how was it? He made 30 appearances, plus two off the bench. In those appearances, he scored 10 goals. That’s a step down from last season, where he scored 14 in the league.

There’s no denying it’s disappointing to see him take a step back, especially as everything lined up so nicely for him to take a step forward. When you sign a rough diamond rather than a finished product, the one thing you’re expecting is major improvements year on year, not this.

What makes it even worse is how good he looked in the early part of the season, where he seemed to have added a more clinical edge to his exceptional quality in pressing and linking up. Instead, like most of our attack, he seized up around Christmas, got an injury, and hasn’t really found his feet since.

Jackson could be displaced as number one after disappointing season

For all his flaws, there’s still a real player in there, and we expect him to continue to be an important figure. But there’s no ignoring the fact that the club will only be intensifying their search for a number 9 to compete with (or replace) Jackson.

The Club World Cup and Conference League final offer a chance for redemption for him. But what are the chances he is still our definite first choice striker come August?