The Chelsea logo with a flag.
The Chelsea logo with a flag.

Ex-Blue urges Chelsea to make January signing and slams “scared” ace who isn’t “dangerous enough”

Former Chelsea player Mario Melchiot has labelled Nicolas Jackson as “scared” and urged the Blues to sign a striker.

Chelsea slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday meaning it’s now just one win in their last seven league matches.

The Blues have dropped to sixth in the table, although they are still well in the race for the Champions League, sitting just a point behind Newcastle and City.

Melchiot slams Jackson

Chelsea were free scoring earlier in the season, but in their last seven games they have really struggled for goals, with the three goals against Wolves last week the first time they’ve scored more than once in a league game since 15th December.

Cole Palmer is the only attacker who seems to be contributing at the moment, but he can’t do it all on his own and needs helps.

Jackson, has nine league goals and started the season well, but he’s yet to score in 2025 and has come under fire for his barren spell in front of goal.

Nicolas Jackson in action against Manchester City.
Jackson has yet to score for Chelsea in 2025. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Maresca has backed the 23-year-old to start finding the back of the net again, but it’s clear the Blues need an alternative to the Senegalese.

John Obi Mikel was once again critical of Jackson after the City defeat, and Melchiot is now the latest former Blue to criticise the striker.

“When I watch Jackson in the [Man City vs Chelsea] game, he was not dangerous enough,” he told ESPN.

“He had a moment when he could score a goal and he was scared to kick it with his left. He controlled it first and the chance was gone when Palmer put him in.

“When that moment happened, I was like no they need a striker, an extra striker to compete with him.”

The January window is into the final days and Chelsea face a race against the clock to bring a forward in, and it seems the most likely player to arrive will be Mathys Tel, but even that could be a difficult deal to pull off given the amount of competition from other clubs.

Tags Mario Melchiot Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea News