Chelsea make late enquiries to sign Sporting star as Nicolas Jackson replacement

Chelsea have made late enquiries for Sporting striker Conrad Harder as they prepare for the potential departure of Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson had been set to join Bayern Munich on a season-long loan deal, but Liam Delap’s hamstring injury has thrown a spanner in the works and Chelsea are demanding that the forward returns from Germany.

Facing the media after Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat of Fulham, Enzo Maresca confirmed that Delap – the club’s £30million signing from Ipswich – would likely be sidelined for between six and eight weeks.

As things stand, Stamford Bridge bosses expect Jackson to join up with Maresca’s squad again in time for the side’s Premier League clash with Brentford next weekend.

But according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea could still allow Jackson to depart if they are confident of bringing in a viable replacement before the summer transfer deadline.

The Blues have ruled out the possibility of Jackson leaving on loan, though, and the Senegal international will only be able to move on a permanent basis if a ‘suitable proposal’ arrives in the next 48 hours.

The report adds that, with loan options thin on the ground, Chelsea’s hierarchy have made enquiries regarding a possible bid for Sporting and Denmark centre-forward Harder.

Harder had been Viktor Gyokeres’ understudy at Sporting and would no doubt have been looking to spearhead Rui Borges’ attack following the Swede’s big-money switch to Arsenal.

However, the 20-year-old is yet to make a single start in the Primeira Liga this season, coming off the bench in all four of Sporting’s opening top-flight matches.

Chelsea were first credited with an interest in Harder in February, but the Club World Cup winners decided to cool their pursuit of the Dane to focus on other attacking targets, namely Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Delap.

But Delap’s injury blow in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off has dramatically altered the situation and Harder has once again come to the fore as a potential solution in west London.

Harder – who has scored 12 goals in 51 games for Sporting – has also been linked with RB Leipzig and Newcastle in recent weeks.

The youngster’s current contract with the Portuguese champions runs through to June 2029.

Speaking earlier this summer, Harder indicated that he was ready to fill the void left by Gyokeres in Lisbon.

‘I don’t think about the fact that it’s Viktor that I have to replace, but they will be enormous shoes that I have to fill,’ Harder told reporters while on international duty with the Danish Under-21 side.

‘I want to play, but Viktor is a super cool guy and I feel really good with him. But now he also has to try something new.

‘He has proven everything he has to in the Portuguese league. He has proven that he needs to be on a higher shelf, so maybe it’s time for that.’

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