John Obi Mikel has delivered a surprising verdict on Chelsea's current squad, suggesting the Blues are feeling the absence of an unexpected figure: striker Nicolas Jackson.

The former Chelsea midfielder, speaking on his podcast, made a notable U-turn from his previous criticism of the Senegalese forward. "We are missing Nicolas Jackson," Mikel stated. "What he gave us, no striker has given us. Yes, we are missing Jackson."

Jackson is currently on a season-long loan at Bayern Munich, where he has found minutes hard to come behind stars like Harry Kane. Despite limited opportunities, he has managed eight goals and four assists across all competitions, a respectable return given his 11 starts.

With his loan ending and Bayern unlikely to trigger a permanent option, Jackson is set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer. His future remains uncertain, with links to clubs like AC Milan, but Mikel's comments highlight a perceived void in Chelsea's attack this season that Jackson's specific skill set once filled.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Chelsea's plans are taking shape. The club is reportedly targeting defensive reinforcements, with Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio among the names linked, indicating a busy off-season ahead for the Blues as they look to build a more complete squad.