Chelsea are in talks to recall teenage striker Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland as uncertainty grows around Nicolas Jackson’s future and with Liam Delap sidelined by injury.
The Blues had previously allowed Jackson, 24, to undergo a medical at Bayern Munich ahead of a proposed loan deal worth £13m, which included a £56.2m option to buy. However, Chelsea pulled out of the agreement after Delap suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Jackson has since been instructed to return to London, though Bayern were also offered the opportunity to pursue a permanent transfer instead. Proceeds from such a sale were earmarked to fund a new signing, with Sporting striker Conrad Harder identified as the preferred target.
Yet Harder, 20, had already entered advanced negotiations with RB Leipzig as a replacement for new Manchester United striker Benjamin Šeško, and is expected to complete a move to Germany. The Norwegian forward was also offered a more prominent squad role at Leipzig than at Stamford Bridge, leaving Chelsea’s pursuit all but over.
With options limited, Chelsea have turned to Guiu as a solution. The 19-year-old, who scored once in his only start for Sunderland, joined the Blues from Barcelona in 2024 for £5m. Talks over cutting short his loan spell are underway and now expected to be finalised.
Should Guiu return to Stamford Bridge, Sunderland are likely to re-enter the market in search of a replacement striker before the window closes.
