Chelsea trying to avoid Nicolas Jackson issue as club consider Noni Madueke transfer repeat

Chelsea remain in the market for a new centre-forward despite completing the signing of Marc Guiu earlier in the week.

The Blues are looking to bring someone in to support and to compete with Nicolas Jackson, who enjoyed an impressive debut season with the club last time around. Despite receiving plenty of criticism in his first campaign in England, Jackson ended the term with 17 goals in all competitions - a more than decent return given all of the circumstances.

Being just 22 at the time, adapting to a new league, new teammates, a new country and much more, Jackson, who has since turned 23, was relied upon heavily during his debut season. The Senegal international featured 44 times for Chelsea in all competitions, with Mauricio Pochettino not really having any other options in the striker department.

The club, now led by Enzo Maresca, do not want to repeat the same mistakes as last season. They want to bring in a No.9 to help Jackson but at the same time they do not want to hamper his development and progress, football.london understands.

Chelsea are also looking at bringing in a new winger this summer; someone who can operate in a variety of positions across the front-line. Michael Olise was a big target at one point but the Blues eventually pulled out of a deal to sign the Crystal Palace winger.

Nico Williams is someone the club very much like but any deal this summer is highly unlikely. The Spain international, who has been one of the standout performers at Euro 2024 thus far, is likely to demand an extortionate financial package, something Chelsea are highly reluctant to match despite their keen interest in the winger.

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The Blues have a shortlist of alternative options to the two mentioned above and one man on that list is Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven. football.london understands Chelsea hold a keen interest in the 21-year-old winger, who made his way into the PSV first-team in February 2022 after starring for the club's reserve side Jong PSV.

Bakayoko, who featured twice at the Euros before Belgium crashed out against France on Monday evening, has just two years remaining on his contract with the Dutch club. Chelsea have previous with PSV after bringing Noni Madueke from the Philips Stadion to Stamford Bridge about 18 months ago.

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Ironically, though, bringing Bakayoko to SW6 could spell bad news for Madueke. The former PSV winger showed glimpses of his undeniable talent in a Chelsea shirt last season but equally he has not done enough to convince club officials that he is the man for the right wing spot.

Cole Palmer has been used off the right as well but last season's top goal scorer, who is still in Germany representing England at Euro 2024, can also play through the middle. A winger that can play both sides is the hope for Chelsea as they look to recruit once more despite already making five signings this summer.

There is also big hope for Christopher Nkunku in his second season with the club. The 26-year-old played just 14 times in all competitions for the Blues last term in a heavily injury-disrupted campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca will look to use Nkunku in a variety of different positions over the club's pre-season tour of the United States later in the month as the Italian aims to find the Frenchman's most effective role. Chelsea fully believe that if they had a fit and firing Nkunku last season then the side would have ended up in a much better position come the end of the campaign.