In a dramatic twist to Chelsea’s Champions League campaign, Nicolas Jackson could line up against the Blues this season — wearing the red of Bayern Munich.

According to Sky Sports, Bayern have reached an agreement with Chelsea for a season-long loan deal worth a record £13m, with an option to buy the Senegalese striker for £70m next summer.

While Premier League rules prevent loan players from facing their parent club, UEFA’s regulations are very different. In European competition, clubs are not allowed to place any restrictions on the availability of their loaned-out players. UEFA states clearly that a club cannot exert “any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may [or may not] field in a match.”

That ruling means Jackson will be eligible to play against Chelsea when Bayern and the Blues meet in the Champions League — a storyline that adds an extra layer of drama to an already heavyweight tie.

For Chelsea fans, this situation presents mixed emotions. Jackson’s form has divided opinion since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, but there’s no denying his potential. Now, there’s the very real prospect of him coming back to haunt his parent club on Europe’s biggest stage.

Bayern will see Jackson as a player who can offer pace, power, and unpredictability in attack — qualities that could cause problems for Chelsea’s defence. And for Jackson himself, this is an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level, even if it comes at the expense of the club that signed him two years ago.