Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been excluded from the squad for the upcoming match against Bayer Leverkusen after reaching an agreement with the club to facilitate his departure this summer. The 24-year-old forward, who has attracted interest from Newcastle following their unsuccessful pursuit of Benjamin Sesko, trained alone on Friday as the club prepares to move forward with potential transfer options.

Jackson's exit aligns with Chelsea's recent signings of two new strikers—Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. Chelsea is looking to recoup more than the £32 million they initially spent on Jackson when they signed him from Villarreal in 2023, aiming for a price that reflects his contributions, including 30 goals and 12 assists across 80 appearances. The club believes he is worth more than the £52 million paid by Arsenal for Noni Madueke, given Jackson's superior goal and assist statistics.

Should their asking price not be met, Chelsea plans to reintegrate Jackson into the squad. The team is also managing the situation of Christopher Nkunku, who was left out of the match due to a minor injury. Jackson's future remains uncertain, but with the transfer window still open, both Jackson and Chelsea are hopeful for a resolution that benefits all parties involved.