Chelsea Striker Informs Club of Desire to Leave

Chelsea will face German outfit Bayer Leverkusen in their opening pre-season friendly on Friday evening.

Whilst most clubs are winding down their preparations for the forthcoming campaign, the Blues are yet to play a warm-up fixture due to their extended involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup, which concluded with them lifting the trophy in New Jersey in early July.

Enzo Maresca’s side are set to meet both Leverkusen and AC Milan over the next week, before hosting Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener.

The Blues have been notably active in the transfer market this summer, overseeing numerous arrivals and departures at Stamford Bridge.

Now, it appears another member of Maresca’s squad could soon be heading for the exit.

According to TBR Football, striker Nicolas Jackson has informed Chelsea of his wish to leave before the close of the current transfer window.

The Senegal international has endured a challenging couple of months, having been sent off twice in his last four appearances across all competitions. These dismissals resulted in him missing the final two fixtures of the Premier League season and much of the Club World Cup.

Although Jackson netted twice in the Europa Conference League final, the summer signings of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap could significantly reduce his opportunities for regular game time next term.

With that in mind, the forward has expressed his desire to move on, and reports suggest that several clubs are interested in securing his services.

German giants Bayern Munich are among those reportedly monitoring the situation, whilst clubs in Spain and Italy are also said to be keen. In addition, Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle United are believed to have intensified their pursuit of the player in recent weeks.